The RAF Museum is proud to announce its London based apprenticeship scheme in conjunction with Barnet and Southgate College.
In 2005 The Royal Air Force Museum launched its apprentice scheme at the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre (MBCC) at its Midlands site, with a vision of preserving heritage aviation skills. The scheme ensures that apprentices are trained in subjects such as Heritage Aircraft Restoration, Aircraft Carpentry, Welding & Fabrication and Machine and Bench Fitting.
Since then, the scheme and its participants have gone from strength to strength, with local and national recognition and accolades and the MBCC is now listed as one of the country’s Top 100 Apprentice Employers in the UK.
Awards received have included the Apprentice of the Year; TCAT Student Achiever of the Year and ‘National Small Employer of the Year’ at the National Apprenticeship Awards. One lucky apprentice even met Her Majesty the Queen as part of the celebrations of the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further education 2007. Last month, Laura Pringle from the MBCC was selected as the ‘National Intermediate Apprentice of 2012’ at a ceremony in Birmingham.
This year the Museum has expanded its apprentice scheme to London and in conjunction with Barnet and Southgate College has developed an apprenticeship programme, based around the various motor vehicle repair disciplines to provide a nationally recognised qualification accredited by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).
Also involved, is the Institute of Conservation (Icon) with the expectation that apprentices progressing beyond year one would be enrolled onto their assessment programme to become an Icon registered Conservation Technician.
In addition to Motor Vehicle expertise the apprentices will be expected to be able to work within many types of Museums as experienced and Qualified Conservation Technicians and potentially also seek work in a variety of contexts: historic houses, libraries and archives, conservation workshops in major institutions or commercial workshops.