A teenager whose career plans were knocked off track by the collapse of Thomas Cook has seen his prospects take off again at Airbus.
Apprentice Joe Smith had just started the second year of his aircraft maintenance engineering apprenticeship with Thomas Cook when news of the company’s sad demise emerged last year.
The 18-year-old had spent the first year of his apprentice training attending college in Hull, while working on a Broughton-built Hawker business jet at BAE’s training centre on Humberside.
“The Thomas Cook recruitment process was tough and included practical, skills assessments and academic tests,” said Joe.
“I was selected as one of 15 new recruits from an application list of more than 700, so I felt very privileged to be chosen.
“When the company went into administration, I was working in the hangar maintaining Airbus A320s and A330s. We had little indication of what was happening, though we knew there were high-level talks going on to agree on a rescue package. However, over the course of the weekend, it became clear things hadn’t gone well.”
Joe, who hails from Hawarden, Flintshire, decided to take unilateral action and contacted Coleg Cambria to enrole an aeronautical engineering course.
It was suggested he would be an ideal candidate for an Airbus apprenticeship, so submitted his CV that day. He was contacted, invited in for an interview and offered a craft apprenticeship in Aero Systems.
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Despite starting the programme two months late, Joe worked hard to catch up with his fellow apprentices and passed both his practical and academic, end-of term training in December.
He said: “I have taken a different path to my older brothers, who both decided to go to university, as have many of my friends. But for me the opportunity to learn and earn was a no-brainer and I feel lucky to have been selected as an Airbus apprentice – though perhaps unlucky to have already been made redundant at the age of 18.”
■ Anyone thinking about an apprenticeship can find out more about what Airbus in Broughton has to offer at two open days being held at Coleg Cambria, Kelsterton Road, Connah’s Quay. The first event focuses on Airbus’ Craft Apprenticeships, like Joe’s, and takes place tonight (Thursday, 23 January), from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. The second open day takes place on Thursday, 30 January, 5pm to 7pm, at the College’s Deeside Sixth Form Centre, and will focus on Airbus’ Degree Apprenticeships.