Engineering Apprenticeships in UK for non-UK nationals

[mitsuboy]

Hi, I am new to the forum, and just wanted some advice.
I am from Barbados, and I really would like to become an AME. I know there are college/ university courses available both in the UK and USA which are probably easier to get into, but they cost loads of money...the exchange is rate is over 3 Barbados dollars to 1 UK pound.
As a result I would prefer apprenticeships, and since I have family in the London, it is easier for me to afford living expenses since I may not have to pay rent.
Anyway, can you recommend the best or any apprenticeship open to a non-national, and recommend the best way to go about trying to get into such a program? I've read about, and tried contacting Virgin, BA and a few others, but got no response. I would be grateful for any information about any program, but would prefer info about airlines which visit Barbados such as Virgin, BA, Monarch, Thomas Cook or Thomson so that at the end of my apprenticeship I could possibly move back home or to the Caribbean to work with the same airline
Anything is appreciated.

Thanks

[spannersatcx]

Talk to the Virgin engineering manager in BGI, he may be able to give you some info, he's a nice guy.

[mitsuboy]

thanks a lot for the reply. I'll try to have a word with him, but I've tried a couple times, and it was hard reaching them while they were in the office. From what I was told they usually come into work an hour before the incoming flight, so I'll keep trying!!
Thanks

[Fargoo]

Lufhansa Technic Landing gear services just advertised for these positions, it's a workshop apprenticeship but maybe worth a look

Apprenticeship | Lufthansa Technik Landing Gear Services UK

[mitsuboy]

Thanks for the link. Just curious, what are some of the steps I may have to go through to apply or get accepted in one of these programs? I have certificates at a level here in the Caribbean called CSEC, which is what I think is considered equivalent to GCSE's in the UK. Would any program accept my certificates? And my last question for now is about the interview process. Its fairly expensive to travel between Barbados and England, so multiple trips are out of the question. How long does it take between being told you are successful, and actually getting the first interview? and if successful at the first, how long is it before the second interview or test?

Thanks

[mitsuboy]

Still doing some investigations, and I have noticed that some programs and apprenticeships offer NVQ qualifications, and others offer EASA Part-66 Licenses. I have personally never heard of NVQ and thus don't really know about its credibility, so I am wondering if this qualification would help me get a job outside of the UK, or if I should only try to get the Part-66 Licenses?
Thanks

[kennethr]

response

NVQ stands for national vocational qualification, waste of time if you want to be a licenced engineer, I used to live and work in BIM as a licenced engineer, if it is still accepted you guys used to get away with an american A and P licence and convert it to Bajan Licence, go and speak to some of the guys at BeeWee or ex Bajan Helicopter guys, I know for a fact that is how the Bajan helicopter guys got their licences

Apprenticeships are hard to get in the UK and even harder for non citizens , but a friend of my sons just got a place for a engineers course at Kingston , but as you said it is not cheap, speaking to the ex Bajan Heli guys is your best bet unless the rules have changed since I left......

Good luck and stick at it.....

KM

[kennethr]

Ex Bajan Guys were Pierre, Andre and David , all went to bee wee

[mitsuboy]

Thanks for the reply. I will keep searching and hoping, but the more looking I do, the more unrealistic the goal of an apprenticeship in the UK seems. I spoke to a Barbadian engineer here at Virgin, and he also told me its going to be hard getting an apprenticeship from my end. He told me to try the long and hard way of becoming certified is to buy the books and do my own studying, and hope that an airline would employ me so I can get the requisite experience. It's going to be tough to get a job working with engineering without any qualifications, but I'll try.
But if anyone has anymore advice, please don't hold back. Thanks

[mitsuboy]

Looking for a little more advice
Since it is probably very slim or impossible for me to get into a UK apprenticeship as a non-national, I am now looking at doing home study for a licence. But my question is, which is better to study, especially in the circumstance of having to move out oft the Caribbean for work... should I do FAA or EASA? Which will be more accepted around the world? For example, is it easier to convert FAA to EASA or vice versa?

[spannersatcx]

There is no conversion between either EASA or FAA.

Which you would go for would be dependant on where you want to work, both are recognised in different parts of the world.

In my opinion based on your location FAA would be the way to go.

[ashoo89]

If you are planning to relocate to europe or the middle east, go for EASA....Set your aims...get a list of places you want to relocate to....then research about the region....and yea, every place has its own pros and cons...

best of luck
tc

[ashoo89]

is there in any way vector aerospace will provide visa for its apprentices???? I have gone through the application and they accept applications from people living abroad as well....and no where I have read that having a current UK visa is a requirement....

anybody has any info on this??

regards

[mitsuboy]

I was looking at the Lufthansa Resource Technical Training courses, and I emailed them but haven't gotten a reply as yet. I was wondering if anyone on here knows if they provide full training from absolute no experience, to graduating with a full licence? Right now, I am finding many places which provide theoretical training, but none/very few allow for graduating with a full licence...must say 2-3 years experience is needed after taking their course, in order to gain a licence

[FlyingEagle21]

BA Recruitment

http://www.brooklands.ac.uk/docs/Air...aintenance.pdf

Farnborough College of Technology - Courses Search

http://www.kingston-college.ac.uk/co...-engineer.html

I know someone just finishing the first year at one of these colleges for BA, has a full time job at Heathrow on 777 and 747-400 line maintenance, also sitting for his AME exams, which BA teach and pay for. Not bad for 18, on around £20,000 and BA concessions.

[ashoo89]

ba doesnt recruit non-eu nationals/residents

[mitsuboy]

Back again. I'm planning to give Virgin's base a call this week, but I'm curious if anyone has a definite answer as to whether Virgin's apprenticeship is opened to non-UK persons? and if they help such people in getting Visa's? Thanks

[spannersatcx]

you may of missed the boat, application and selection normally done around April time.

[will.mac]

You have missed this years Virgin apprenticeship. You must have the right to live and work in the UK to be eligable. Hope this is of some help to you. The advert usual goes out around start of April

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/tridi...cm4-725877.pdf

[mitsuboy]

I know applications for this year have closed, but if I am eligible to move to the UK for the apprenticeship, I would need to start thinking about immigration documentation and saving money toward that move from fairly early. That's why I'm looking forward to next year's scheme.