Apprenticeships
Offering a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge aerospace projects, collaborate with experienced mentors, and earn a competitive salary.
Looking For a Career in Aviation?
Join our family of innovators at the HR Smith Group of Companies, a world-leading aerospace engineering and manufacturing company. Founded in 1965, we’re a family-owned business with a passion for innovation. We design, manufacture, and sell a wide range of aerospace products, systems, and subsystems, including communication and navigation antennas and search and rescue equipment. Our global customer base includes leading aerospace manufacturers, aircraft operators, and government agencies.
We are always looking for talented and motivated apprentices to join our team. Whether you’re a recent school or college graduate eager to kickstart your career or you are just seeking a thrilling career change, our apprenticeship program welcomes individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.
your tomorrow starts todayExplore the areas we offer apprenticeships in
Mechanical Engineering
- Design the next generation of aerospace products using cutting-edge SolidWorks 3D CAD software.
- Work with a team of experienced engineers to create innovative and manufacturable designs.
- Collaborate with other departments to ensure that your designs meet all quality and safety standards.
- Play a vital role in the development and production of our aerospace products.
- Use your engineering skills to solve problems, create and amend documentation, and design jigs, fixtures, and assembly aids.
- Be involved in the development of new manufacturing processes and the improvement of existing ones.
- Create the technical drawings that bring our aerospace products to life.
- Use 2D AutoCAD and SolidWorks 3D CAD to create detailed and accurate drawings.
- Work closely with all departments within the R&D Centre to ensure that your drawings are complete and accurate.
- Machine precision components from various materials using a variety of machines.
- Work closely with engineers and other machinists to produce high-quality components that meet all specifications.
- Design and manufacture compression and injection mould tools using SolidWorks 3D CAD, CNC, manual tool room machines, and spark erosion machines.
- Work with engineers and other toolmakers to create and maintain high-quality tools that produce consistent results.
Electronics Engineering
- Use your engineering skills to create innovative and cutting-edge antenna designs.
- Work on a variety of challenging and rewarding projects, from designing antennas for air-to-air communication to developing navigation and location systems.
- Design and develop cutting-edge radio frequency (RF) circuits for search and rescue applications.
- Use your engineering skills to create RF circuits that are reliable, efficient, and high-performing.
- Design and develop analogue circuits for a wide range of applications, from audio amplifiers to solid state power supplies to battery charging circuits.
- Use your engineering skills to create analogue circuits that are efficient, reliable, and meet all specifications.
- Design cutting-edge digital electronic systems that control airborne antennas and transmitters.
- Use your engineering skills to create digital systems that are reliable, efficient, and high-performing.
- Design and develop software programs to control emergency transmitting equipment and intelligent antenna systems.
- Use your programming skills to create software that is reliable, efficient, and easy to use.
The sky’s the limitExperience the Best of Both Worlds
With practical on-the-job training and college-based learning which results in a prestigious nationally recognised qualification. Our apprenticeships offer a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge aviation projects, collaborate with experienced mentors, and earn a competitive salary. Some of our longest serving colleagues started as apprentices and still work with us over 25 years later, a true testament to the success of our apprenticeships, as well as our reputation for being an employee conscious company.
- Earn a highly competitive salary while you learn
- Work on real projects
- Work within our fully integrated services
- Nationally recognised qualification
Your Apprenticeship Journey
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1. Applications
Application for one of our apprenticeships is done via the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Group Training Association (HWGTA). Following your application, we’ll handpick candidates for interviews, where we can delve deeper into your individuality. During this exciting phase, you’ll have the chance to explore our state-of-the-art facilities and experience our dynamic work environment first-hand.
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2. Starting
Successful applicants will commence their training in September for 10 months at the HWGTA centre. During this time, you will learn a range of engineering skills relevant to your apprenticeship. In July, you will then start at HR Smith and you will follow a training plan designed around your final position within the company.
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3. During
During your time at HR Smith, you will attend college on day release and study either EAL Diploma Level 3 or National Certificate (NC) in Mechanical or electrical engineering.
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4. Beyond
Some apprentices go on to study for higher qualifications, such as HND and a part-time degree after completing their apprenticeships, this would depend on your final job role and ability.
Scott Bradley | Digital Design Engineer“I was fortunate enough to do my work experience at HR Smith during high school. This definitely made the idea of an apprenticeship more appealing to me, especially after finding an apprenticeship with HR Smith was an option through HWGTA.I did my apprenticeship straight from school, and I can remember how unsure I was about whether college or an apprenticeship was the right decision. I would recommend an apprenticeship, the practical experience alongside learning is a fantastic way to move from education into the working world, plus an important factor for me was avoiding the huge cost of higher education. For anyone thinking that an apprenticeship won’t allow you to study at higher education, I have obtained my Bachelor’s Degree whilst working at HR Smith, whilst other colleagues and ex-apprentices have completed their Master’s Degree through the company. So the higher education qualifications are still obtainable through an apprenticeship scheme, provided that you prove you’re worth it.”
Discover more
Find out more and apply on the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Group Training Association website.
