Apprentices
Our apprenticeships have been designed to give you the best possible start to your career, across our Customer, Business and Operations teams. You’ll earn while you learn, and gain qualifications along the way, too.
If you have the passion and the ambition, then we have the experience to help you embark on a thrilling career in aviation. This is your chance to begin a journey with the nation’s flag carrier, and get a head start with one of the UK’s very best apprentice employers.
Apprenticeships that will open for applications in 2025 are clearly marked below and due to open from 3rd November.
Apprenticeships for 2025-2026
Business
Operations
Business
Business Professional
You’ll get to taste a range of different departments at our Heathrow Head Office during this three-year programme. It could be collating Cabin Crew performance data, organising fundraising events for our charity partners or coordinating activity at our worldwide airports.
Aspiring Leaders
This exciting four-year degree apprenticeship will see you taking on several rotational placements across Head Office and beyond including Customer Experience, Commercial, Operations and Strategy. You’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to become the type of leader we need.
Operations
Heathrow Aircraft Maintenance
Help us take care of our fleet and support our worldwide engineering operation at our base in Heathrow, where you’ll complete rotational placements to service and repair our aircraft. The three year programme will give you the knowledge, skills and behaviours to achieve your A-licence and become a professional Aircraft Engineer. You’ll need to hold or be predicted a grade 5 in Maths.
Glasgow Aircraft Maintenance
Based at Glasgow International Airport, this challenging three-year apprenticeship programme will require you to support in the service and repair of the British Airways short-haul fleet. At the same time, you'll study towards the formal qualifications needed to become a professional Aircraft Engineer. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to our outstanding engineering operation.
Wales Aircraft Maintenance
This programme provides a unique opportunity for apprentices to experience a variety of roles right across the British Airways fleet, including Aircraft Maintenance, Interiors Engineering and Aircraft Avionics, based in Barry, Cardiff. After three years, you’ll be ready to become a professional Aircraft Engineer.
Aircraft Systems and Components
Our avionic component maintenance facility is a high-spec, modern workshop. Across the 3 years, you’ll maintain, repair and overhaul critical aircraft components from flight-deck instruments and radios, to motors, actuators, wiring looms, lighting systems and more.
Aircraft Workshop
You’ll develop engineering skills, giving you aircraft components to repair in ramp and hangar environments. Across the three and a half year scheme, you’ll rotate through different workshops to understand the nature of every highly sophisticated aircraft component.
Engineering Supply Chain
Every day, you’ll support the worldwide engineering logistics operation by shipping aircraft components to our UK bases and overseas line stations. You’ll work in different areas of logistics and inventory management, gaining the experience to help keep materials flowing to our engineers and aircraft.
US Engineering Cadet
Our partnership with AIM college enables engineering students to join a sponsored 3 year program to put their engineering theory into practice across one of our US engineering bases. Spending some time in London, our engineering cadets gain all the skills they need to become certified aircraft engineers.
Aircraft Mechanic
Over a series of placements, you’ll work on different aircraft fleets. Across the 2 year scheme, you’ll work alongside and learn from some incredibly talented mechanics and engineers to become one of our future Mechanics.
NDT Workshop
You’ll discover the unique area of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). Across 3 years, you’ll work with our specialist NDT engineers to train to become a future NDT Technician.
Why British Airways?
We want all our people to feel valued for the role they play at British Airways. That includes all our emerging talent. It’s why our graduates and apprentices get the same benefits as our other colleagues, right from the day they join. Here are just some of the rewards you’ll get to enjoy when you arrive at British Airways. They include some rather good travel perks, too.
Discounted travel
Heavily discounted air travel for yourself, friends and family accompanied with a generous annual leave entitlement or 26 days to turn your bucket list into reality.
Champion Sustainability
Play a part in driving our sustainability agenda through fundraising for charity partners, volunteering for charities or championing our colleague diversity networks.
Become an ambassador
Access our Graduate and Apprentice Networks to learn from current and former colleagues on our schemes, and volunteer to inspire the next generation to consider an aviation career.
Speedbird-Z
Like what you see? Explore more of the world of aviation by registering to our dedicated student website, Speedbird-Z.
This one-stop-shop gives you the opportunity to directly chat online with our colleagues, register for upcoming events we are running or attending, and complete learning modules to build your confidence in employability, as well as learn more about British Airways.
Learn more
Business Schemes
Applications open from 3rd November 2025.
Business Professional
Duration: 3 Years
Location: London Heathrow
Requirements: English and Maths GCSE at grade 9 - 4 (A*- C) is desirable.
Salary: From £16,000 depending on scheme.
Completing rotational placements in our head office and more. It could be collating and analysing Cabin Crew performance data, running meetings at Heathrow or organising an internal conference. For the first 12 months, you will study towards a Business Administration qualification. After completion, you will explore a further qualification within a more specialised area of our business.
Aspiring Leader
Duration: 4 Years
Location: London Heathrow
Requirements: GCSEs at grade 9 - 4 (A*- C) is desirable and achieved or predicted to achieve 2 A-Level passes or Level 3 equivalent.
Salary: From £16,000 depending on scheme.
Several rotational placements, giving in-depth insight into our colleague and customer experience and commercial, operations and strategy roles. You will gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours to become a leader in our journey to A Better BA. You’ll also complete a placement at Heathrow Airport in our customer experience team, studying Level 6 Chartered Management.
Operations schemes
Applications open from 3rd November 2025.
Heathrow Aircraft Maintenance
Duration: 3 Years
Location: Cardiff Airport
Requirements: Aged 16 by start date. Minimum grade B in Maths, and minimum grade C in English and one Science. Predicted grades accepted if achieved by the start of the apprenticeship.
Salary: £14,700 depending on scheme, increasing in year 2 & 3.
This is your chance to learn how aircraft really work; from lighting to navigation, radio, radar, and safety systems, all underpinned by high-quality workmanship and engineering integrity. Our avionic component maintenance facility is a high-spec, modern workshop where engineers maintain, repair and overhaul critical aircraft components, from flight-deck instruments and radios, to motors, actuators, wiring looms, lighting systems and more. We also maintain and calibrate the specialist tooling and test systems that ensure these components meet the highest standards. Safety, reliability and quality are at the heart of what we do, and we continuously innovate to make systems better.
Glasgow Aircraft Maintenance
Duration: 3.5 Years
Location: London Heathrow and Farnborough College of Technology.
Requirements: Aged 16 by start date. Minimum of a grade 5 (B) in Maths. Predicted grades accepted if achieved by the start of the apprenticeship. English and Science GCSE at grade 9 – 4 (A* - C) is desirable.
Salary: From £16,000 depending on scheme, increasing in year 2 & 3.
Rotate through different workshops to develop your engineering skills repairing aircraft components in both ‘ramp’ and ‘hangar’ environments, studying towards a Composite Technician apprenticeship. Split between London Heathrow and college, you will achieve an EAL level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and study towards your knowledge skills and behaviours. Final year will require a work-based portfolio of evidence in preparation for the end point assessment. Includes additional aircraft related training in Air Legislation, Human Factors and Aircraft Composite repairs. Applications will not accepted if you have prior qualifications of HNC/HND or Degree in Engineering; or a BTEC Level 3 in Engineering.
Engineering Supply Chain
Duration: 15 Months
Location: London Heathrow
Requirements: Aged 16 by start date. 3 GCSE’s including English and Maths GCSE at grade 9 - 4 (A* - C) is desirable.
Salary: From £16,000 depending on scheme.
You’ll work alongside incredible engineers who support our operation around the globe. Over a series of placements, you’ll work in different areas of logistics and inventory management, gaining the experience and know how to help keep materials flowing to our engineers and aircraft. Comprehensive on-the-job training, studying towards the qualifications you need to become one of our future Material Suppliers. You will also have opportunities to work in different operational environments supporting our aircraft maintenance inputs, ensuring that the right materials arrive at the right time in the right location.
Wales Aircraft Maintenance
Aircraft Systems and Components
Duration: 3 Years
Location: Cardiff Airport
Requirements: Aged 16 by start date. Minimum grade B in Maths, and minimum grade C in English and one Science. Predicted grades accepted if achieved by the start of the apprenticeship.
Salary: £14,700 depending on scheme, increasing in year 2 & 3.
This is your chance to learn how aircraft really work; from lighting to navigation, radio, radar, and safety systems, all underpinned by high-quality workmanship and engineering integrity. Our avionic component maintenance facility is a high-spec, modern workshop where engineers maintain, repair and overhaul critical aircraft components, from flight-deck instruments and radios, to motors, actuators, wiring looms, lighting systems and more. We also maintain and calibrate the specialist tooling and test systems that ensure these components meet the highest standards. Safety, reliability and quality are at the heart of what we do, and we continuously innovate to make systems better.
Aircraft Workshop
Duration: 3.5 Years
Location: London Heathrow and Farnborough College of Technology.
Requirements: Aged 16 by start date. Minimum of a grade 5 (B) in Maths. Predicted grades accepted if achieved by the start of the apprenticeship. English and Science GCSE at grade 9 – 4 (A* - C) is desirable.
Salary: From £16,000 depending on scheme, increasing in year 2 & 3.
Rotate through different workshops to develop your engineering skills repairing aircraft components in both ‘ramp’ and ‘hangar’ environments, studying towards a Composite Technician apprenticeship. Split between London Heathrow and college, you will achieve an EAL level 2 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and study towards your knowledge skills and behaviours. Final year will require a work-based portfolio of evidence in preparation for the end point assessment. Includes additional aircraft related training in Air Legislation, Human Factors and Aircraft Composite repairs. Applications will not accepted if you have prior qualifications of HNC/HND or Degree in Engineering; or a BTEC Level 3 in Engineering.
Engineering Supply Chain
Duration: 15 Months
Location: London Heathrow
Requirements: Aged 16 by start date. 3 GCSE’s including English and Maths GCSE at grade 9 - 4 (A* - C) is desirable.
Salary: From £16,000 depending on scheme.
You’ll work alongside incredible engineers who support our operation around the globe. Over a series of placements, you’ll work in different areas of logistics and inventory management, gaining the experience and know how to help keep materials flowing to our engineers and aircraft. Comprehensive on-the-job training, studying towards the qualifications you need to become one of our future Material Suppliers. You will also have opportunities to work in different operational environments supporting our aircraft maintenance inputs, ensuring that the right materials arrive at the right time in the right location.
US Engineering Cadet
Duration: 3 Years
Location: Various stations in US and trips to London for 2-3 weeks at a time.
Requirements: Before you apply you need to be enrolled on a programme with AIM college based in the US.
Salary: $70,000
You’ll complete two years tuition at AIM, and then join us for a three year program to put your theory into practice. Most of the time, you’ll be working at the designated station to build your experience and skills, as well as a few trips to our hub in London for 2-3 weeks at a time to gain further business understanding and explore other engineering functions. Throughout the program, you will be mentored by experienced British Airways engineers who will provide valuable insights and support, helping you navigate your path to becoming a fully licensed aircraft engineer.
NDT Workshop
Duration: 3 Years
Location: Initial induction at London Heathrow, then split between Lavender International NDT training centre and Engineering NDT department at Heathrow.
Requirements: Aged 16 by start date. Minimum grade 5 (B) in Maths - predicted grades are accepted if achieved by the start of the apprenticeship. English and Science GCSE at grade 9 – 4 (A* - C) is desirable.
Salary: From £16,000 depending on scheme, increasing in year 2 & 3.
Learn more →
You’ll earn your stripes working alongside some of the best Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) engineers in the industry to develop your engineering skills, while carrying out aircraft and components inspections on aircraft in the ‘ramp’ and ‘hangar’ as well as components in our technical workshops. You’ll be learning different skills, inspection techniques and processes so you understand the nature of a highly sophisticated engineering discipline. You will study three NDT methods at Level 2 (Personnel Certification in Non-Destructive Testing), including at least one complex method, working towards your Level 3 Technician Apprenticeship.
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Work Experience & School Programmes It doesn’t matter what your background is, or where you come from. It’s where you’re going that we care about. -
Graduates, Business Placements & Interns Our graduate programmes, business placements and summer internships offer a chance to join a dynamic and diverse team that’s playing a lead role in the future of flying.