Degree Apprenticeship Boosts Career in Aerospace
In recent years, there has been a sharp rise in demand for degree apprenticeship, driven in part by the soaring cost of university fees, and many students are looking for alternative ways to gain a degree while earning a salary and learning industry-specific skills in the workplace. Bloxham alumnus Jordan, was one of the first in the country to start a degree apprenticeship when, in 2015, the government announced the roll-out of 9 new industry designed Degree Apprenticeships*.
Jordan embraced life at Bloxham, joining many sports teams and clubs and performing as a leading member of the School Choir. Notably, in his leaving year, he won the vocal prize in Bloxham’s Young Musician of the Year, gained full colours (Sailing) and became the School’s 50th recipient of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award in four years. Jordan was also a School Prefect, a Wilson House Prefect and a Peer Listener.
While at school, Jordan was also the proud recipient of a prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarship. These are awarded to stand-out young engineers and designers of the future, identifying them amongst the country’s future leaders in engineering and technical design.
It was great to interview Jordan to hear about his passion for engineering and aerospace, and how he decided to join Airbus’s degree apprenticeship programme.
What A levels did you do?
Maths, Physics, Design & Technology, as well as Art AS Level.
What was the most useful subject to your career?
For work, Design & Technology, but during my time at university, where I studied Aeronautical Sciences, I would have to say Maths.
Which teacher inspired you?
Mr Stindt, my physics teacher, inspired me because his passion for the subject was genuine and clear to see.
What is your fondest memory of Bloxham? And what are you most proud of about your time at school?
My fondest memories are the friendships that I made in Wilson House, including preparing for inter-house competitions, like House Shout, House Dances and House rugby matches. I am most proud of my contributions to music, including performances in Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and in Ypres. I was part of the Chapel Choir’s First World War Remembrance Tour of Belgium. We sung in Bruges and Ghent Cathedrals and gave a poignant performance at the Menin Gate during the Last Post ceremony.
I am also proud to have been Sailing Captain and recipient of an Arkwright Scholarship in engineering and of my work in the Design & Technology department.
At school you were recipient of an Arkwright Scholarship, what did this mean to you.
Receiving the Arkwright Scholarship meant a great deal as it was something that recognised my passion for engineering. It also gave me a greater chance of success in future university applications. Above all, it confirmed that engineering was a career I wished to pursue.
What did you do in the year after leaving Bloxham?
I started my career in aerospace engineering, undertaking an undergraduate apprenticeship with Airbus. I moved to Bristol (UWE) to facilitate this.
What attracted you to the aerospace industry?
I always wanted to understand how things work, and I enjoy solving problems. Aerospace for me is the pinnacle in Engineering terms so has always been attractive. And perhaps most notably, I love planes… but this is not a common trait in the workplace and isn’t essential by any means.
Editor’s note: In The Bloxhamist 2014, Jordan’s interest in flight was noted in the Physics & Astronomy department’s annual report. “Following their exams, the Lower 6th were set a design challenge to produce a re-usable rocket, to be launched using a powerful solid fuel propellant. The winning entry was launched by Jordan Cook, Tom Jennings and Robert Skipworth. Their rocket reached an altitude of 430 metres and, thanks to a very successful parachute deployment, was in flight for 1 minute 59 seconds.”
Tell us about your career so far.
I completed an undergraduate apprenticeship at Airbus and during that time, I was fortunate to be named ‘Apprentice of the Year’ two out of three years in the cohort. This also led to being named as Undergraduate Apprentice of South West UK. I graduated the program in 2018 and have remained with Airbus ever since, diversifying my jobs in the business.
Today, I am on track to become an Architect (Engineering sense). I am now leading a transnational team of 15+ people across France and Germany. I am responsible for delivering a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Module, part of a flying demonstrator which forms part of Airbus’s Zero Emission goals to fly Hydrogen propulsion.
How did your time at Bloxham prepare you for what you are doing today?
Aside from the obvious subject knowledge required for my profession, Bloxham gave me the right environment to develop my confidence and people skills. I learnt to be responsible for all aspects of my day – From the moment I woke up, to the moment I went to sleep, I was treated as an adult. Put simply, Bloxham teaches independence and accountability at school, where most experience it for the first time at university.
Bloxham also provided additional opportunities for me to take on responsibility, such as the Peer Listening initiative, Prefect organisation and through being a Sports Captain, among others. All this helped me integrate into the working world without having such a steep learning curve.
Why did you choose an apprenticeship?
It offered the degree I needed for free, while being paid. More importantly, it gave me a 3–5-year head start in the business. Without this, I would not be in the position I am today.
How did you balance your time at UWE with your apprenticeship?
I’ll be frank, balancing coursework and lectures with work was tough. I had a full week of lectures compressed into a single weekday at UWE (eight hours of lectures). The remaining four working days were full time at Airbus. This meant that my weekends were often spent completing university coursework. In fact, Airbus recognised this to be too challenging so subsequent year groups now do a 4-year scheme opposed to the 3-year scheme that I completed. I think that today, now the scheme has been extended, it is more attainable to have a better work/life balance.
In addition to the BEng in Aerospace Engineering, I completed two additional NVQ’s and Airbus training. One could say I missed out a bit on the ‘uni experience’ but it has paid dividends in my career.
How did you find out about apprenticeships?
Apprenticeships were not very well recognised back in 2015. I think that has changed. I was looking for future job prospects in the aerospace sector and I found out Airbus offered a sponsored degree program alongside real work experience so naturally I applied (with low expectations as there were a few thousand applicants for just 10 places). Airbus now offers 50+ apprentice roles, and this number seems to grow year on year as apprentices are now out-performing those joining the business on the graduate program – perhaps I am biased!
What has been the most exciting or rewarding moment of your career so far?
I am working on the most exciting project in Airbus and leading one of its key modules: to develop sustainable Zero Emission Flight. I am very excited to be in such a position. I am also proud to be one of the youngest employees to be in an Airbus’s Architect Development Path.
What is your greatest professional achievement to date?
My promotion to Work Package Lead for the ZEROe Demo Fuel Cell Module.
What advice would you give to your past self when you were at Bloxham?
Buy bitcoin… no seriously, I would say to enjoy your time at school – it goes very fast. Make the most of team sports as you will discover it is more difficult to make time for them as life goes on. I’d also say to pay more attention in French lessons, having been seconded to France (Toulouse) for four years and regretting thinking, while at school, that I’d never need it!
What advice would you give to current students about apprenticeships?
Apply for apprenticeships in parallel to UCAS. See what opportunities are available and go for it, specifically research apprenticeship opportunities in a chosen career which combine a degree and real work experience. At the very least, you will have a decision to make as to which path you choose – there is nothing to lose.
What are your hopes and aims for the future?
I hope one day to start a business in the sustainability sector having learnt from my time in industry. But first, I hope to play a role in pioneering the future of Zero Emission Flight.
* Government rolls-out flagship Degree Apprenticeships – GOV.UK
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