Get your career off to a flying start!

Our head office functions are the backbone of our business. It involves those colleagues in various departments who provide the vital business support for each of our planes to take-off and land successfully.

Then this two-year programme provides a unique opportunity to study level 3 qualifications in Business & Administration apprenticeship, combining on the job-learning and formal training by our provider. This scheme will introduce and captivate you to the world of business support in a corporate environment.

The programme is designed to offer you up to four different placements across the business, which will provide you with a unique insight into our company.  This could range from providing our cabin crew with essential information, supporting the preparation of learning and development initiatives, and experience working for our parent company IAG (International Airlines Group). The opportunities available for your learning and career development are endless.

“I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship! They offer so many opportunities, some that you wouldn’t be able to get with 20 years’ experience! You’re given a reasonable wage, experience and a recognised qualification. Above all, you become an appreciated employee of an organisation, and adopt skills that can only be picked up in a working environment.”

- Melissa

This programme will equip you with the skills and experience required to become an Aircraft Ground Handler, working as part of our 3,000 strong Heathrow Operations team.

Initially you join a pre-employment course at Kingston College, where you will undertake an 18-week full-time course to introduce you to Ground Service Equipment, Aircraft Familiarisation, Airmanship and Health & Safety. As part of the course you will spend two weeks on work experience at British Airways. Successful completion of this course would lead to an 18-month Apprenticeship with British Airways, subject to referencing, criminal record check and successful interview.

You will be offered an 18-month apprenticeship contract, and you will get the chance to learn first hand how British Airways co-ordinates every aspect of its 580 daily departures and arrivals at Heathrow. Through various placements you will develop your skills in a number of ground handling roles, such as Baggage Handling, Ramp Handling and Ground Logistics. During this period you will also study towards a Level 2 Qualification in Aviation Operations on the Ground.

“The apprenticeship has opened my eyes to other roles within British Airways I might be interested in”

- Andrew

Our apprenticeship programmes last 24 months and have been developed with one thing in mind: you. You will receive formal IT technical training supplemented with developing your business knowledge to provide you with a stepping-stone into IT.

IT Software Engineering - Higher Apprenticeship Programme

An exciting and challenging opportunity to join the IT Delivery and Architecture teams. The role will develop your understanding of programming, system testing, analysis and design and you will help deliver real IT projects that will benefit the airline.

IT Operations - Advanced Apprenticeship Programme (24 x 7 shifts)

As an IT Operations apprentice you will contribute to supporting the delivery of IT services to the airline as part of a shift team on a 24x7 basis. Essential requirement. The ability to work a full 24x7 shift pattern, including early, late, night shifts as well as weekends

"My immediate plans are to successfully complete my IT apprenticeship programme, learn as much as I can and secure employment with British Airways at the end of my programme. I would like to use the programme to give me a good grounding and use the skills that I would have learnt through the qualification and on the job training to progress through the company and be the best I can be to ensure the success of British Airways in the long term future."

- Jagroop

Do you want to learn how to successfully manage business projects? This is a unique opportunity to get hands on practical experience over a two-and-a-half-year Higher apprenticeship Programme, acquiring a Level 4 NVQ in Project Management and working alongside experienced colleagues, while earning a competitive wage in the process. Through a combination of working on real life projects and undertaking formal training you will acquire the skills and experience necessary to oversee complex projects to completion within a large dynamic organisation.

We will provide you with a solid foundation and the necessary training, development and career opportunities required to fulfil your potential towards a career path in project management.

We are looking for individuals with a clear desire to work in the aviation industry, who are positive and self-motivated, who possess strong communication and organisational skills, enjoy solving problems in a creative manner, working in a team dynamic and are able to role model our brand values.

"Before I applied for the apprenticeship, I had an idea of what Project Management was but was unsure of the full gravity of the occupation. Taking on this apprenticeship has opened my eyes to all the opportunities and skills project management brings."

- Rachel

This apprenticeship, lasting up to two years, will give you the skills and experience required to work in a fast paced, logistics based operation. Through three different placements; two within warehousing functions and one in a clerical role, you will learn the basics of global logistics, customer service and administration skills by working in a live dynamic operational environment.

During the programme you will undertake a level 2 Warehousing related qualification, equipping you with the knowledge to complement the experience and skills gained through your placements. There may well be scope to progress to a higher-level qualification, dependent on your performance.

"I have obtained the ability to pick up new things quickly and improved my presentation and communication skills. My enthusiasm and wanting to learn appears to have a positive effect on my trainers and helps to build new relationships"

- Zena

The Business and Administration apprenticeship is a two-year programme run in conjunction with Farnborough College with the aim of delivering a number of talented individuals to support our engineering department.

The first year involves six weeks in our engineering training school workshops gaining a practical understanding of engineering principles, which will involve riveting, wiring and component overhaul. This will then be followed by placements around the engineering support areas including Training, Quality, Commercial, Inventory Management, Planning and Production areas to name a few. Here you will gain a comprehensive understanding of these business areas and their work processes.

In addition to this you will be working towards an NVQ level 2 and BTEC diploma in Business and Administration supported by Farnborough College, who will come to the training school at British Airways one day per month. Alongside this, the college will visit at regular intervals to assess your practical capability in the working environment. There may also be an opportunity to take an NVQ level 3 in the above during your apprenticeship.

On completion of the apprenticeship successful students may be offered a full-time contract within the support arena subject to the appropriate selection process.

" I started my Apprenticeship in 2010 and worked my way around the business support functions of British Airways, I enjoyed all the departments I was placed in which included Inventory Management, BADC, Planning, HR, 24 Hours Desk and my favourite Training. I was mainly involved in projects but took on day to day roles which helped me to improve on my computer skills, communication skills, organisation skills and presentations skills. For our 4 month final placement I chose the Training Department, had an interview at the end of the 4 months and I was successful in getting the role!! "

- Hannah

The Technical apprenticeship is a three-year programme run in conjunction with one of our four partner colleges; Brooklands, Farnborough, Kingston or Uxbridge.

The first year will be spent full-time at college gaining both the practical and theoretical skills related to aircraft maintenance that are required to become an aircraft engineer. During this first year you will be required to study for a PEO – Performing Engineering Operations (level 2 qualification), functional skills and possibly a subsidiary diploma in engineering (level 3 qualification). You will also have four weeks of work experience at Heathrow, some of which will be during the college holidays. During the year you will have contact with engineering training instructors on a regular basis. There will also be a liaison officer from within the British Airways Engineering training department aligned to each college who will monitor and address any issues from the programme.

At the end of the first year students will be required to apply to British Airways for a placement and go through an interview process. Successful candidates will be able to complete years two and three of the apprenticeship with British Airways on a paid two-year, fixed-term contract based at Heathrow Airport.

In years two and three you will work for four days a week gaining invaluable experience in the work place on live aircraft and first hand experience of aircraft systems and component overhaul and testing. You will then attend your partner college on a day-release basis for the fifth day. A college placement advisor will also visit you on a regular basis in the workplace to discuss your progress.

When at college during years two and three you will be required to study for a City & Guilds 2661 (level 3 qualification), which provides a strong grounding for any future aircraft engineering licence, programmes (A, B1/B2 and C). On completion of the apprenticeship you may be offered a full-time contract as a mechanic subject to the appropriate selection process.

The Finance Services department performs a crucial role in planning, processing, collecting and reporting the revenue essential for making British Airways profitable and which keeps our airline operating smoothly on a daily basis.

We work to ensure all the airline's purchases are correctly paid for, and recover all revenue due to the airline from other companies and airlines we have provided services for. We also work to calculate and report accurately the airlines revenue collected from our own sales.

The Finance Services Apprentice role works in the heart of these crucial business functions - often running the systems we have to do this work, and often with colleagues from the rest of the wider business. The roles involve making sure our processes are effective and accurate, checking our systems work correctly, and even making sure British Airways can implement the commercial agreements we hold with suppliers and other airlines. Our need for accuracy is high, and we welcome like-minded apprentices who share the same values. Our apprentice positions involve studying for a level 2 qualification in Business & Administration, and we guarantee that the roles give each apprentice the opportunity to pick up valuable business skills and experience on the way.