A challenging week for Airbus apprentices
Date posted - 25 July 2011
This is the ninth year in which Airbus apprentices have attended a learning and development programme with The Outward Bound Trust, and over the years the programme has developed to incorporate intercultural awareness, values, behaviours and key skills. This year saw 130 apprentices attending a 5-day programme based at The Trust’s Eskdale centre, over 3 weeks in July.
The vast majority of apprentices were in the transition between their year spent in college and moving into the workplace for the first time. They were joined by apprentices from Airbus’ French and German sites, and by companies from the supply chain such as GKN as well as customers such as Thomas Cook. The range of participants enhanced the intercultural element of the programme, and also allowed the apprentices to consider both internal and external customers.
The programme sees the apprentices working on the key skills of improving own learning and performance, and working with others, but also gives them the chance to tackle challenging tasks, such as ghyll scrambling, rock climbing, rafting and an expedition. The reviews from these tasks are managed to reflect the needs of the individual, the team and Airbus itself. The apprentices discuss and reflect upon their learning throughout the week, which culminates in a presentation by the apprentices delivered to Airbus visitors and managers on the final morning of their programme.
The 3 weeks have seen the apprentices battle some of the hottest and wettest weather this year. For the first two weeks of the programme, the major issue was keeping hydrated in the Lake District sun, and on the final week the apprentices battled the highest water flows in the ghyll so far this year.
During the Airbus programme, groups plan and carry out a day expedition in which each group must summit one of the Lake District peaks and manage the logistics of their exped along the way. Whilst some groups chose the challenge of Sca Fell, others chose to scramble on Harter Fell and Yewbarrow whilst some groups took on a scramble on Great Gable. On summitting, each group took part in a full review of their expedition complete with tea, cakes and a flipchart to record their performance.
This led to a challenging 3 weeks, both physically and mentally for all of the apprentices. They were introduced to performance monitoring tools which they will use back in the workplace whilst also learning more about Airbus’ values and behaviours and their 2020 vision strategy.
Dave, Senior Trainer, Eskdale centre
