This will be the first time that aviation training specialist Marshall Skills Academy, which rebranded at the start of 2022 to better reflect its core focus and expertise, has delivered an apprenticeship provision externally, building on a proud 100-year history of providing its own award-winning apprenticeship programmes.
The new cohort of Bombardier Level 3 apprentices will complete their first year in Marshall’s workshop in Cambridge before returning to the aircraft manufacturer’s Biggin Hill site, where they will be given day release to continue with their studies.
Marshall Skills Academy will provide continuous on-site learning and assessment at Biggin Hill along with dedicated support to the wider Bombardier team to enable them to develop and grow the apprentices within their workplace.
Marshall Skills Academy’s Head of Aviation Excellence Matt Siggens, himself a former Marshall apprentice, explains: “The Marshall Apprenticeship programme has long been acknowledged as setting the gold standard in the industry and I am incredibly proud and excited to working with the Bombardier team at Biggin Hill to help them grow the next generation of aviation engineers.
The decision to extend our Aviation Apprenticeship offering beyond those that we need for our own aerospace businesses will enable us to partner with more like-minded organisations to develop a robust pipeline of talent for the future.
“We are very happy to be working with Marshall Skills Academy on this critical programme to develop future generations of aircraft technicians,” said Paul Thompson, General Manager of Bombardier's Biggin Hill Service Centre. “This world-class facility will provide a solid training ground for our apprentices in a technologically advanced workplace environment – with the possibility for full-time employment at the facility upon graduation.”
Commenting on the partnership with Bombardier, Dan Edwards, General Manager of Marshall Skills Academy said, “There is a growing concern across the aviation sector over the massive skills gap in competent aircraft maintenance professionals. Marshall Skills Academy is proud to be involved with doing its part to close that gap so that the world’s fleet of aircraft can continue to fly safely.”
Dan continued, “It is also an exciting time for the business as we have started working more collaboratively with industry professionals to help them solve their biggest challenges by delivering the world-class training that puts Marshall apprentices above and beyond the competition.
As we move towards blending traditional delivery methods with technical learning, we aim to build strong collaborative relationships with future customers rather than transactional ones. Therefore, Marshall Skills Academy’s holistic approach to apprentice training, support and wellbeing is truly unique.”
Marshall Skills Academy is working with Bombardier to support their recruitment efforts to onboard up to 20 new apprentices in 2022.
Image above: Marshall Skills Academy’s Head of Aviation Excellence Matt Siggens with Paul Thompson, General Manager of Bombardier's Biggin Hill Service Centre.