Airbus is launching its Future Engineers Programme at its Broughton manufacturing site in North Wales, with Castell Alun High School as the flagship school. The 20-week initiative will pair 20 Year 9 pupils with Airbus apprentices to develop engineering and professional skills, provide practical exposure to modern manufacturing and support the company’s early-careers recruitment pipeline.
Delivered with educational charity ABLAZE, the programme targets schools where pupils may be at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training. It reaches students before they select GCSE subjects and is intended to broaden access to engineering among those who may not otherwise consider the sector.
Participants will study engineering fundamentals, learn about professional skills and design, build and flight-test custom drones at Broughton. The site is Airbus’ centre of excellence for wing production and offers early-career routes in engineering, manufacturing, digital, human resources and other functions.
The initiative previously began at Airbus’ Filton site in 2016. Airbus reports that 190 students have completed the programme, with many progressing to engineering apprenticeships and careers. Its introduction at Broughton expands the company’s early-careers outreach in North Wales.