Student online work experience

[meandthekids]

Hi there! I remember asking this a few months ago and there were some really helpful suggestions, I think one by NorthernLass but I’ve tried the different ways to search without success! I’m sure I favourite’d the thread too but I must have done something wrong.

Can anyone please send me links for any aviation based work experience opportunities for 16 year olds?
Thanks so so much in advance.

[NorthernLass]

Springpod is the website for the remote work experience. There were some CAA and other aerospace/engineering courses.

[The Savage Squirrel]

Have to say, I’d be VERY VERY cynical about any young person who applied showing me work experience that was largely virtual/remote and would wonder about their commitment and how they could possibly know this was the field for them. To really see and understand whatever area they want to get into there simply is nothing like being there are interacting with people that are doing it.

I would encourage this young person to think a bit laterally (i.e. beyond the big brand names they know), hit google, and write personal letters to smaller – ideally family owned – firms and businesses. Aerospace engineering firms, suppliers, consultants, small airfields, travel firms, government agencies, RAF, and who knows what else.

We love having enthusiastic work experience kids where they have contacted us off their own bat and do it in their own free time (most of us had a similar favour at a similar age – pay it forward!). The kids where it’s through their school/parents, often in the school’s work experience week block are much lower quality, are sometimes doing it to tick the box for the week, and we tend to avoid. Especially the school that wanted to inspect my premises and interview me to see if I was worthy to offer such a service 😀 . Sorry – not in aviation so can’t help further!

[NorthernLass]

During the pandemic virtually was the only way school kids could get work experience. This has now developed into online courses where they can get certificates to boost their CVs. It’s not supposed to be a substitute for real life experience, now that’s an option again.

[Lyn]

@meandthekids, you may have asked in the daily chat, rather than a special topic, so perhaps that’s why bookmark didn’t work? I remember your question, so I have just searched for work experience using Rob’s forum search workaround and it brings up the chat from October 1, 2024 but then “page not found”. Have you tried looking at your own posts in your HfP forum account and starting from there? (One of the blue links above)

[Lyn]

Sorry, looking at your own “Replies” rather than “Posts created” in your HfP account. Your chat comments are included.

[meandthekids]

Thanks for the messages and apologies for my tardiness. Got so busy with the kids yesterday.

@Lyn I’ve just tried to have a look through but nothing there on this point unfortunately. I can only see my comments made to specific forum posts not for the daily chat ones and I do think it was in one of those I had asked the question.

Thanks @NorthernLass for the response again. It is for someone who doesn’t have parents and lives and with his gran, so abit of help his way would help him. He knows everything about planes, watches those black and white movies on the Concorde, etc, and is really fascinated, but is at abit of a loss as to how to take his passion forward without guidance.
Thanks @TheSavageSquirrel for your advice too, that is something I will try and look into and get him to do after his mock exams.

[NorthernLass]

Does his school have a careers advisor? If so I would recommend getting an appointment and asking if they can offer any pointers re relevant careers and work experience.

A cousin of mine got on BA’s pilot training scheme some years ago, I don’t know if they still run that but it’s worth checking.

Also, not sure where you’re based but BAE Systems is expanding a lot these days and offering all sorts of apprenticeships at different levels if that’s something this boy would be interested in.

A friend’s son has just started a degree apprenticeship with Airbus based in Chester, might be worth looking at that as well.

[JDB]

Many of the above suggestions relate to older children and are longer term programmes.

Prior to covid, both Heathrow and BA offered good week long work experience programmes and I believe BA still does and while I don’t think Heathrow currently does (although it still has a very good future leaders programme), other airports around the country do. It’s worth looking at otter airlines as well. It’s very competitive to get onto these programmes; a really good letter is essential.

[NorthernLass]

@meandthekids said that the young man wants to take his passion forward, so having a longer term view can only help when applying for work experience as having some idea of the career path he wants to take (pilot/engineer/ATC etc) will show motivation and enthusiasm.

[meandthekids]

Thanks. He would absolutely love a career in aviation but he hasn’t had the best education at the school he is attending and so he is dreading the exam process. He has just started some private tuition and the tutors think he has masses of potential so we just want to try and support that.

I think a short term work experience stint will be good to demonstrate his interest to future programmes he can undertake like the degree programmes. So for this summer after his GCSEs, it would be good if he gets on something that helps him explore the area.

I will look into the apprenticeships also and check if the school has a careers advisor.
He is in London, and I feel like we can explore some of the routes.
He would love a pilot training scheme, but aren’t they very expensive?

Thanks to everyone again.

[executiveclubber]

BA cover the costs of 100 students, it’s worth bookmarking or setting a Google Alert up for the name of the course so he can apply within the deadline. Details here https://careers.ba.com/future-pilots

[NorthernLass]

It’s very expensive to train to be a pilot, which is why schemes like the BA one my cousin got on are so competitive. They pay for the training so it’s am amazing opportunity. There are also routes via the armed forces which offer similar pathways – I’ve got another cousin who somehow managed to get an engineering degree via the Royal Navy without having to join up!

Has he given any thought to what he’s going to do after GCSE’s? Again, if he doesn’t want to go down the A level route, there are lots of apprenticeship opportunities which would give him a qualification he can build on while earning a modest amount of money.

[JDB]

BA has re-started funded pilot training albeit there’s a large loan/lock-in element but it does overcome the huge cost. A good place to start is working at least part-time at a flying school in exchange for flying lessons which gets you into the conversation and an opportunity to meet with others trying to do the same thing. The military is also a great route for flight training and an eventual move into civilian passenger or cargo flying. It is really hard, very competitive and requires serious application. I don’t think being a pilot is quite as glamorous or as well remunerated as it once was and hours are much longer than they used to be, so anyone considering embarking on this path should talk to as many people as possible. Our son was seriously considering it at one point – he even met with two BA pilots, one of whom said go for it and the other definitely don’t, but ultimately he decided to go for a terrestrial career in aviation and fly recreationally.

[meandthekids]

executiveclubber wrote:

BA cover the costs of 100 students, it’s worth bookmarking or setting a Google Alert up for the name of the course so he can apply within the deadline. Details here https://careers.ba.com/future-pilots

Thanks- will do this now.

[meandthekids]

NorthernLass wrote:

It’s very expensive to train to be a pilot, which is why schemes like the BA one my cousin got on are so competitive. They pay for the training so it’s am amazing opportunity. There are also routes via the armed forces which offer similar pathways – I’ve got another cousin who somehow managed to get an engineering degree via the Royal Navy without having to join up!

Has he given any thought to what he’s going to do after GCSE’s? Again, if he doesn’t want to go down the A level route, there are lots of apprenticeship opportunities which would give him a qualification he can build on while earning a modest amount of money.

My husband and I are in professional services ACA qualified and he’s seen that this route isn’t a terrible lifestyle so he’s considering the big 4 apprenticeships if the whole career in aviation feels too far fetched. But whilst I want him to be realistic, I also feel he’s too young to think aviation is impossible as he has the potential.
We are currently trying to focus his mock exams and see how he gets on with those and the next few months to help guide him more realistically.

He tries to speak to pilots if he ever comes across one at city airport! But any aviation experience would be really good for him to get the exposure and identify whether it really is the career he wants for his future.