National Apprenticeship Week kicks off today and thousands of people around the UK are already celebrating apprenticeships and the exciting career paths they lead to.

The UK’s Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries are at the forefront of providing high quality training and development. Companies in these sectors provide thousands of apprenticeships every year, offering routes into exciting and high-tech, high-skill, high-wage careers. These apprentices make a valuable contribution to manufacturing, with many of them working on world-leading technologies.

To kick off National Apprenticeship Week, here are some of ADS’ top apprenticeship facts:

  • 9,000 apprentices are employed by companies in the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.
  • Our sectors continue to invest in skills – with over 50% of ADS member companies stating they would be investing in new apprenticeships and trainees in 2015/2016.
  • The 5% Club, a campaign focussed on creating momentum behind the recruitment of apprentices and graduates into the workforce, has created over 36,000 opportunities for young people. Almost all of the Club’s founding members are companies in ADS’ sectors.

As the Government tries to rebalance the economy around advanced manufacturing, the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors are investing even more in apprenticeships and leading the way in STEM outreach to encourage students into engineering.

One example of how large numbers of students can experience first-hand the career opportunities offered by apprenticeships is Futures Day at the Farnborough International Airshow, which is the industry’s largest outreach programme. Over 7,500 11-21 year olds visited the last airshow in 2014 for a hands-on programme designed to inspire the next generation and enthuse them about the many opportunities in our sectors.

Another success story is the Defence Apprenticeship Trailblazer, which signed 90 students up to a new Systems Engineering Master’s Apprenticeship Programme starting in January 2016. The Trailblazer ensures consistent, high standards for apprentices in the defence sector.

Throughout this week, ADS will be showcasing some of our sectors’ most inspiring apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week.