Safety Apprentice Review

Role includes 20% Off the job training and 80% working within the Safety & Assurance department at NATS. The work includes providing assurance documentation for the long term improvement projects for the UK airspace. Further activities include attending meetings, document writing and reviewing, complying with regulations and also being a part of the early careers scheme and the activities they put on.

New Skills learnt: - Understanding regulations - Domain knowledge of the aviation industry - understanding of the way in which an Air Navigation Service Provider works and operates - Skills in different pieces of software that are required for the job Developed Skills: - Time and stakeholder management - Observational skills and the importance of quality - Word and report writing

I enjoy the programme a lot, doing a MSc in an area that I was already really interested in was not something I thought I would be able to do given the cost and time associated with completing a degree traditionally. The programme has given us so many opportunities to learn, using the 20% Off the Job training, that I would not have been able to access had I entered the company through another route.

The programme for the Masters is well structured, covering all the aspects of the Knowledge part of the apprenticeship standard, and I think it is covered well in the 3 day blocks held in the first year of the course. With this being both a new Apprenticeship Standard and new for the company there has been a lot of learning on all sides and I believe the scheme can only get better.

I receive a lot of support from my employer. There is a designated Apprenticeship Lead as a point of contact who is amazing at communicating with all the stakeholders involved and at listening and resolving any issues. The line managers are also very supportive and encourage work on the scheme and is adaptive to finding work that fits in with the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours we are required to achieve. The wider company is also more than happy to take time out of their days to talk to us about areas of the business we are studying and how things are done at NATS and to support us in any way they can.

We receive a lot of support from the University with any concerns we have and in the things we are studying. There has also been additional support for areas such as writing technique and how to improve grades which have been good as well. For the Work Based Learning Project we have also received good support from Supervisors and our Personal Tutor.

The qualification gives me the time to understand the background of the role I am doing, with the importance of safety discussed in depth using case studies. This in depth knowledge is usually gained over a lifetime of experience but I have been able to get a head start in understanding this important area.

Yes, there are Sport & Social clubs available with lots of activities for all e.g. tennis, language learning and many different special interest groups. There are also professional networks and Yammer groups to provide support and get advice, as well as the employee welfare schemes to provide advice in that area. There is also an Early Careers Scheme that provides training and regularly meets to hear from different people from within the business including the CEO.

Yes

NATS is a very open minded company with a keen interest on learning and early careers. The support has been fantastic and everyone is really keen to help. I would also recommend the industry to those interested in aviation, and as the UKs only ANSP this is a really great company to work for.

Having a keen interest in aviation is an important aspect with many in the business staying within the industry for their whole career but it is not essential. It is essential that you are keen on learning about the industry and can understand the importance of Safety as this is highly regulated industry.