NATS recruitment
 

A friend of mine is looking to apply for the NATS assessment as advertised on their website. As I understand it, if successful then all the training is done at Bournemouth and you are paid during the training.

If you complete the training successfully are you then bonded in for a certain period of time?

There is a huuuuge thread at the top regarding this.
The training has been relocated to Swanwick now, and no you aren't.

Thanks for the speedy response. All the threads I looked through at the top seemed more about the actual assessment.

As a pilot I'm quite taken back that they don't bond you in at all. There's nothing to stop you leaving after a year or so if you find you don't like the job, leaving them with the bill for all the investment they put into you. Perhaps that's just my mentality which is what I've become accustomed to in the pilot world, which is perhaps everything that is wrong with it.

I was under the impression that new trainees are now bonded? Has this changed again?

there's certainly no mention of it...

new recruits are bonded, don't know the exact details of it, I am sure that someone on here will know though...

All new recruits now bonded for 3 years.

Has NATS posted anything on this? I can't find any information on it on their website and I have never heard it before.

That surprises me as I do wonder how many people they actually get leaving in the first 3 years.

Had to sign a document before starting college. The first course to be bonded started in March last year.

I see, well that doesn't bother me personally, how ever I am suprise there has been no mention of this during my application or on the NATS website.

There was quite a few when I was at college that got their ratings and then left to go to non-NATS airports. Bonding seems like a sensible decision tbh.

Not many. But just because there aren't many jobs around elsewhere!

But who in their right mind would actually want to leave NATS? It's such a great organisation, with really high morale, and fantastic opportunities open to all, leaving can't be on anyone's mind surely?

I think he is serious, and I agree. Go work for SERCo to see how not to run ATC!!!

Or Peel, they are bad as well.

3 years seems very short. If you ended up at Swanwick you'd be lucky to have been valid a year by then. I'd have thought at least 5 would seem more sensible.

:ugh: :ugh: :ugh:

Maybe a company that looks after it's staff doesn't need to put them in bondage. Perhaps pay, conditions and postings need to be readdressed.

I am sure some, who are happy with pay and conditions, would still rather be put in bondage.

Why would you want to be forced to stay if you are happy?

A 3 year bond seems to be industry standard. But if you're not happy somewhere getting out is usually a minor consideration and manageable.. Saying that, one thing I have learnt is that in ATC, and I suspect most industries, the grass is definitely not always greener elsewhere.
I know ATCO's from NATS, Peel, Stobart, Infratil, Bae, Serco etc etc etc.. Everyone has issues. Some common to each other, some unique to their employer.
Utimately you need to be happy where you are spending the majority of you life..... Then again my NATS friends do seem to have far more free time on their hands. :E

The bond is two fold, 3 years post college, 3 years post validation. 225 onwards have had the pleasure of it.

There was an issue with non "ideal" postings for aerodrome which I believe was the straw that broke the camels back.

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone else has had problems with filling in the resume builder for the trainee ATCos on NATS?

I have filled it in three times now twice its crashed, once got all the way through, pressed submit and it took me back to the start of the form:ugh:.

Cheers

My brother had issues with it on his computer and then filled it in on mine in Safari and it worked perfectly.

He was using Chrome beforehand

ahh so am I, thank-you mate. I'll try it on IE.

Docash1983

Just wondering has anyone who has applied in this wave of applications received a reply with a link to the first tests? Its been over a week, either they are extremely busy or something went wrong when I submitted!

Hey Milkz. i haven't heard anything back from them yet either. Good to know I'm not the only one.

Are you sure that is been relocated to Swanwick?

Maybe to a place near Swanwick...

Fair point, to be correct it has relocated to Fareham and the CTC. Which isn't Swanwick that is correct (even though it is very close).

Indeed....too close

the college for training is at whiteley which is a couple of miles away from swanwick.

i applied friday, hopefully will hear back from them asap!!

Hi - noticed a few people waiting to hear on the outcome of the online forms, and the next phase of testing.

Has anyone heard anything now?

I put in my application on 31st July - got a confirmation email and nothing since. Understand if it just takes that long to process, but thought i'd check.

S

Dutch recruit
 

Hi there,
I have a question about the recruitment possibilities for a dutch person.
I wondered if someone form the Netherlands could apply for the selection of ATC at NATs at all?
If this is possible, is there a possibility to do the assessments and other things at home (back in the netherlands). I understand the college itself will be in one of the places in the UK.

Can anybody tell me about the policy of international recruits?

Greetings.

As long as you have the right to live and work in the UK it's fine. You'll have to travel to the UK for all 3 stages of interviews.