THE head of programs for A330 and A350s aircraft at Airbus' Broughton plant has spoken about how his career began as an apprentice. 

Marc Jones has lifted the lid on his career as part of National Apprenticeship Week (February 5-11). 

His Airbus career began 22 years ago, as a craft electrician apprentice. "I grew up down the road in Penyffordd, and I'd see the Beluga flying in every day - thinking I have to know what's going in and out of that factory," he said.

"Thankfully I managed to pass all the tests and got on the craft electrician apprenticeship. Originally, that's all I wanted to be - but little did I know what the apprenticeships scheme has to offer, and the opportunities within Airbus itself."

After completing his apprenticeship, Marc spent time working as a craft electrician on the Hawker 125 - private jets that used to be manufactured in Broughton, before then working on A380s. He then went overseas to work on the flight test team as an electrician. "That was amazing," Marc said. "Working on aircraft, closing them up and watching them fly really excited me."

"That was a real height of my career, but I still had that urge to want to learn more. That drove me into the design function - challenging what I'd been fitting and installing for a number of years, and wanting to influence and change it.

"In my three years within the design office I was given delegated authority, so I could sign off drawings for flight test installation. It just showed that if you apply yourself and put your mind to it, you can achieve it. It doesn't matter that you were just a craft electrician apprentice, you can apply yourself to any role Airbus has to offer."

MORE NEWS: 

Marc's career continued to go from strength to strength, and he now has the role of head of Broughton plant VSM (head of programs) for A330 and A350 aircraft. 

Talking about the characteristics that an Airbus apprentice needs to be successful, Marc said: "I think there's a mixture of having passion, and wanting to really make a difference - that's what's driven me through my career. 

"My drivers are that they I want to influence people as much as the product. When I go home and I know I've influenced a person, that's a good day for me.

"My advice would be to ground yourself, be prepared to learn your craft and skill. And then just be keen and eager, be courageous. And recognise that you need to commit your hard work to get you there."

He added: "My two words of advice to an apprentice are 'be curious'. Airbus is a worldwide business which has so many roles, a lot that I didn't know it existed."

Marc urged young people to take the plunge and attend Airbus open days if they're uncertain on what they want to do. 

"Just go there, we're a really friendly bunch," he said. "Go and engage and speak to people. If it's not for you then it's not for you, but it might prove to be the best thing you ever do."

Marc said Airbus is taking steps to make it as an inclusive environment for all as possible.

"We're in an everchanging world and diversity is a key element to it," he said. "One element is gender diversity, we see it as quite a male dominated environment. We're making really good inroads into changing that. We're seeing a good uptake in the early careers schemes of more females."

He added: "Last year we had a record-breaking amount of orders, and going forward we need the right people - those who are curious and committed to really make it a success."