How your next career could be in the booming aerospace industry… with jobs for ALL skill levels and ages

GET your career ready for take-off in the booming aerospace industry. Thousands of jobs are up for grabs at all levels, from apprentice to graduate and skilled worker, and for all ages. Employers driving innovation in aviation and space range from Airbus, Rolls-Royce Holdings and start-ups Credit: AFP Ruby Gough, 18, is an electrical degree apprentice at the world’s second largest aircraft equipment manufacturer Credit: Glover Films Employers driving innovation in aviation and space range from start-ups to Rolls-Royce Holdings and Airbus UK. Aerospace is the No1 sector for job quality in the UK, offering long-term stability and clear pathways for career development across engineering, tech operations and business management. Crucially, two-thirds of these roles are based outside London and the South East — and the average salary is £52,600, a third higher than the national average. But despite the industry employing more than 113,000 people, two-thirds of employers say workforce shortages have been holding back growth. Around 10,000 technical vacancies are unfilled each year. To urgently fill these jobs, aerospace trade association ADS has teamed up with leading employers in a major recruitment drive. Called There’s Aerospace For You, it aims to showcase the types of job available. Ruby Gough, 18, is an electrical degree apprentice at the world’s second largest aircraft equipment manufacturer, Safran. Her placement has allowed her to learn about areas ranging from electrical design and manufacturing engineering to hands-on assembly, while working in the UK as well as France and competing in the prestigious WorldSkills Mechatronics competition. Ruby, from Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, said: “I had applied to study A levels but, after visiting an open day at Safran, I found out I could learn and earn recognised qualifications as an apprentice. “Choosing the apprenticeship has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. It has allowed me to combine practical experience with academic learning, while giving me the opportunity to build a career in an industry that genuinely matches my interests.” Research shows 59 per cent of us have never received information about careers in aerospace — while 60 per cent of young people claim they would not consider a career in manufacturing due to outdated assumptions about factory environments and salary levels. But it comes as PM Andy Burnham wants the UK to “value the hard hat as much as the graduation cap”, and give 14-year-olds access to technical education, skills training, work experience and connections with employers. Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS, said: “Securing the future workforce of the UK aerospace industry requires collective industrial action. The UK’s advanced engineering capability is underpinned by this sector.” The ADS recruitment push is backed by the Government. Former Industry Minister Chris McDonald said: “To keep our world-class aerospace sector at the forefront of innovation, we need to secure its next generation of talent, and There’s Aerospace For You sends a message that there’s a career for everyone in this exciting industry.” See aerospaceforyou.org.uk. YOU COULD BE ON BAE'S WAVELENGTH TUNE in to a job with defence firm BAE Systems. It has teamed up with the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering to launch a master’s degree aimed at tackling the UK’s shortage of radio frequency and wireless system engineers. These skills underpin everything from secure communications and radar and satellite navigation to medical imaging, power grids and water systems. But demand for qualified engineers is outstripping supply. BAE will fund the first two years of the programme, helping more people from working-class backgrounds get on to the scheme. Andrea Thompson, Group MD of BAE Systems’ digital intelligence arm, said: “This new programme addresses that shortage – helping to develop the next generation of engineers by combining academic teaching with practical industry experience.” Register for more information at nmite.ac.uk/form/radio-frequency-engineering-degr. APPLICATIONS for paid training to become a probation officer are now open. The Probation Service is hiring an additional 1,300 trainee officers by 2027, with new starters on a salary from day one while completing training equivalent to a degree-level qualification. The recruitment drive is aimed at people with transferable skills from education, health, social care, the military and other public-facing roles. Steve Duffy, a probation officer in Greater Manchester, joined the service six years ago and supports people leaving custody to build more stable lives in the community. He said: “What I enjoy most is helping people rebuild their lives while also helping to make communities safer.” HAS YOUR ‘OOO’ PUT PEOPLE OFF YOU? Instantprint’s Craig Wassell said: ‘OOOs are one of the few workplace communications where people feel a sense of control’ Credit: Supplied WHAT does your “out of office” message say about you? With the summer holidays now in full swing, one in three workers admits judging colleagues based on the tone of their OOO message, and that rises to 52 per cent among managers. The messages – which are sent automatically in response to emails received, letting the sender know you are away – can be personalised. But the average now contains three personality markers, from humour to passive-aggressive phrasing. Research by online printing company Instantprint has revealed there are five dominant OOO personality types in UK workplaces. Instantprint’s Craig Wassell said: “OOOs are one of the few workplace communications where people feel a sense of control, and that often comes through in the language they choose.” Here are the five personality types. Which one are you? THE OVER-SHARER: Includes detailed personal context, such as their holiday destination, what they will be doing while they’re away and how much they need a break. Accounts for 19 per cent of OOO messages. THE ULTRA-PROFESSIONAL MINIMALIST: Generally consists of a one or two-line message including the basic, “Thanks for your email” and a return date. This approach is favoured by 27 per cent of staff. THE ‘IF URGENT’ MARTYR: Seen in 22 per cent of OOO messages, this signals partial availability. However, it rises to 38 per cent of staff in senior roles. &THE HUMOURIST: Likes a joke or an emoji. Some 21 per cent of all OOOs include funnies, but 28 per cent of these are sent by younger, Gen Z workers. THE PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE ESCAPIST: Phrases such as, “I will not be checking emails” hint at frustration and boundary-setting. These account for 11 per cent of OOOs. Jobspot BUDGET supermarket Aldi has more than 450 shop assistant vacancies nationwide. Search and apply for your closest store at aldirecruitment.co.uk. MTC TRAINING is recruiting a number of engineering apprentices for Level 2 and Level 3 programmes. For further details, check out mtc-training.org/apprenticeships/for-learners/apply