Airline launches 2017 apprentice scheme and aims for half of intake to be female
easyJet, the UK’s leading airline, today extended its successful Amy Johnson initiative by setting itself the target of filling half the places in its 2017 Aeronautical Engineering Apprenticeship intake with women.
Like the pilot profession, the aviation engineering sector is dominated by men. Only 9% of the total UK engineering workforce is female*. Just 5% of those working in easyJet’s engineering department are female and the airline wants to increase this figure as it recruits into the department.
As well as being an inspiration for female pilots Amy Johnson, like many aviation pioneers, was also an engineer – she became the first British woman to obtain a ground engineers “C” license and was President of the Woman’s Engineering Society.
easyJet employs 230 engineers who maintain the airline’s fleet of over 270 Airbus aircraft. It is looking to fill 14 apprenticeship places in 2017 and wants seven of those to be a woman. The apprenticeship programme is in partnership with Resource Group and its Aviation Maintenance Training Division with the successful candidates due to commence the two-year training course in November 2017.
Aidan Kearney, Head of Maintenance Operations at easyJet said:
At easyJet we value diversity and so we are delighted to be extending the successful Amy Johnson initiative to cover our engineering apprenticeship recruitment. A career as an Aeronautical Engineer is interesting and rewarding and we want more women to bring their skills to the profession.An apprenticeship at easyJet offers a great career route into the industry. It allows apprentices to learn and gain qualifications on the job so they can put new knowledge and skills into practice every day.
Sara Walsh, easyJet Fleet Engineer in Airframe Systems at easyJet said:
Women are significantly underrepresented in engineering roles and so I think this is a great initiative to try and redress the balance. A career in Aircraft Engineering is varied and very rewarding and I would encourage more women to apply.
easyJet’s print advertising for the scheme features visual images of a female engineer and it is hoped that this will inspire other women to apply for the scheme and ultimately encourage more women to pursue careers in what is a traditionally male dominated profession.
The apprenticeship scheme consists of a combination of classroom and practical training. The first 10 months of the apprenticeship scheme will provide accredited training both in the classroom and practical training at LRTT at the Cotswold Airport. This is followed by sixteen months of on the job training. This will take place for easyJet in both Luton and Gatwick.
At the end of their programme, apprentices will graduate with recognised qualifications and the experience and skills needed to accelerate their career. A permanent role with a package up to £30,000 is available to those who are successful.
Application Close Date: 15th September 2017
How to apply: visit our careers page at https://careers.easyjet.com/graduates-and-apprentices/ to complete the application process.
