Two apprentices talk about what it's like to work at Edinburgh Airport

To mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2022 we asked two Edinburgh Airport apprentices - one current and one former - to share their own stories. Here Michael Taylor and Harry Chalmers talk about learning their trade, and what it's like to work in an airport.

Michael's story

Michael Taylor started out as a modern apprentice in 2016 and now works as a fully qualified engineering technician at Edinburgh Airport. He started his apprenticeship one year after dropping out of university and it's fair to say he never looked back.

"As an apprentice, I gained knowledge of the airport and honed the skills that I still use day to day, working on the airfield, in the baggage hall, and in the terminal. The job involved, as it does now, performing routine maintenance, checks, scheduled and unscheduled repairs on things like air handling units, security equipment, building services and machines typically only used in airports such as baggage sorting systems and airfield lighting.  On shift we also have to be ready to help in cases of emergency, such as during power outages or during accidents."

Throughout his apprenticeship Michael was able to share his experiences with budding young engineers while running workshops and activities.

"As well as the day job, myself and the other apprentices would attend and present at high schools, conference centres, colleges, STEM events and Edinburgh Airport’s own visitor centre. There we would talk about and advertise our apprenticeships and run workshops for high school students through the Go4Set and Engineers of the Future programs. We would also compete in competitions such as Developing Young Workforces where we built a demonstration X-Ray belt exhibit and Fuel Change where we explored the use of repurposing retired aircraft as cheap housing."

Michael was due to complete his apprenticeship at the beginning of 2020 - just as the pandemic hit and brought huge challenges to the aviation industry.

"Through it all, I was able to progress to a qualified technician and now have the opportunity to be a part of aviation’s recovery. The airport supported me on deciding to returning to college to further my education to do my HND in engineering, to help make my mark on bigger projects in the coming years and to improve my ability to perform my daily role."

Harry's story

Harry Chalmers, an apprentice engineering technician, will complete his four year apprenticeship at Edinburgh Airport this year. He started in September 2018 having just completed a one-year pre-apprenticeship course at college.

"The last two years have been rather surreal due to the pandemic hitting at the start of 2020 causing a mass decline in passenger numbers, however the airport have done a great job of continuing to support me throughout this; helping me further my development on the tools whilst also getting the time to complete my SVQ and HNC at college."

Harry believes the hands-on experience he was able to gain in the airport environment really aided his development.

"In my first two years at the Airport, I was day shift, working 7am-3pm Monday to Friday. I found the wide variety of work one of the most appealing aspects of working at the airport as every day is different – getting the opportunity to work on equipment in the baggage hall, up in security’s main central search hall, out in the substations and the airfield, whilst also fixing internal faults in the main terminal."

In the third year, at the outbreak of the pandemic, Harry's shift patters changed meaning he was working seven day shifts and seven night shifts a month.

"This enabled me to further develop my skills and work directly with my team leader and deputy team leader. Going on to shift gave me the opportunity to work nights and become familiar with all the jobs that take place at this time. I got a lot more experience working in the baggage hall and out on the airfield, as well as doing jobs in the terminal that can’t take place during the day."

Harry is now fully focused on completing his apprenticeship in September, and believes the opportunities he's been given since starting out in 2018 will help him in the future.

"Throughout my apprenticeship me and the other two apprentices had the opportunity to get involved with events out with the airport which included the apprentice challenge, STEM events and Engineering Tomorrow. These were great opportunities."

Scottish Apprenticeships Week 2022: Apprenticeships Work runs from March 7 to 11.

For more information on Edinburgh Airport jobs and recruitment, click here.