Transport and aviation apprentices keep people moving, whether that’s maintaining aircraft, fixing buses and trains, or running the technology behind the Tube.
Who we’ve researched
- British Airways runs aircraft engineering, business and data science apprenticeships at Heathrow, Gatwick, Glasgow and Cardiff.
- Transport for London has apprenticeships from Level 3 to Level 6 in IT, finance, surveying and more.
- Heathrow trains electromechanical technicians, and says more than 95% are offered a permanent role.
- Translink runs four-year bus and rail engineering apprenticeships in Northern Ireland.
- Network Rail runs rail engineering and other apprenticeships across Britain.
Things to know
- Shifts are common. Transport runs early and late, so engineering roles often involve shift work.
- Age rules vary. Some programmes start at 16, others at 18.
- Location matters. Airports, depots and stations are in fixed places.
Types of work and careers
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Aircraft engineering
Maintaining and repairing aircraft and their components.
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Vehicle and rail maintenance
Keeping buses, trains and their systems safe and working.
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Airport and network engineering
Looking after runways, baggage systems, signalling and the infrastructure behind transport.
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Operations and service control
Running services day to day and keeping them on time.
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Technology, data and business
IT, data, finance and surveying roles behind the scenes.
Compare Transport and aviation apprenticeships
A quick side-by-side of what each employer publishes. Pick a level to see what each employer offers at that level, and open a profile for the full details and sources.
All employers
| Employer | Levels | Length | Pay | Entry requirements | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 18 months–4 years | £15,643–£27,611 | From maths at grade 5 to three A levels, depending on programme | Heathrow, Gatwick, Glasgow and Cardiff | |
| Heathrow | Not published | Not published | GCSEs at grade 4 in maths, English and science | Heathrow Airport | |
| Network Rail | 3 years (Level 3 engineering) | Not published | GCSE maths at grade 5 plus three more at grade 4 (Level 3 engineering, earlier intake) | Depots within 60 minutes of home (Level 3 engineering) | |
| Translink | 4 years | Not published | 5 GCSEs at grade C incl. maths and English (body and fleet) | Engineering facilities across Northern Ireland | |
| Transport for London (TfL) | 2–5 years | £24,016–£29,281 | 2 GCSEs incl. maths and English; 2 A levels for higher routes | London |
Intermediate apprenticeships (Level 2)
| Employer | Programmes at this level | Length | Pay | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 1 programme Heathrow Aircraft Maintenance | 3 years | £16,000 | From maths at grade 5 to three A levels, depending on programme |
| Translink | 1 programme Technical Trades apprenticeship (bus and rail) | 4 years | Not published | 5 GCSEs at grade C incl. maths and English (body and fleet) |
Advanced apprenticeships (Level 3)
| Employer | Programmes at this level | Length | Pay | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 1 programme Heathrow Aircraft Maintenance | 3 years | £16,000 | From maths at grade 5 to three A levels, depending on programme |
| Heathrow | 1 programme Engineering apprenticeship | Not published | Not published | GCSEs at grade 4 in maths, English and science |
| Network Rail | 2 programmes Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (England and Wales); Level 3 apprenticeships in finance, HR support, IT and rail infrastructure operations | 3 years | Not published | GCSE maths at grade 5 plus three more at grade 4 (Level 3 engineering, earlier intake) |
| Translink | 2 programmes Technical Trades apprenticeship (bus and rail); Body Trades apprenticeship | 4 years | Not published | 5 GCSEs at grade C incl. maths and English (body and fleet) |
| Transport for London (TfL) | 2 programmes IT Solutions Technician; Data Technician | 2 years; 2 years 3 months | £25,294; £24,016 | 2 GCSEs incl. maths and English; 2 A levels for higher routes |
Higher apprenticeships (Levels 4–5)
| Employer | Programmes at this level | Length | Pay | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow | 1 programme Engineering apprenticeship | Not published | Not published | GCSEs at grade 4 in maths, English and science |
| Network Rail | 1 programme Level 4 Project Management Apprenticeship | Not published | Not published | GCSE maths at grade 5 plus three more at grade 4 (Level 3 engineering, earlier intake) |
| Transport for London (TfL) | 1 programme Finance | 2 years | £28,380 | 2 GCSEs incl. maths and English; 2 A levels for higher routes |
Degree apprenticeships (Levels 6–7)
| Employer | Programmes at this level | Length | Pay | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 1 programme Data Science | 3.5 years | £27,611 | From maths at grade 5 to three A levels, depending on programme |
| Network Rail | 1 programme Level 6 apprenticeships | Not published | Not published | GCSE maths at grade 5 plus three more at grade 4 (Level 3 engineering, earlier intake) |
| Transport for London (TfL) | 1 programme Land Surveying degree apprenticeship | 5 years | £29,281 | 2 GCSEs incl. maths and English; 2 A levels for higher routes |
Key figures
- British Airways Data Science apprenticeship pay (2027 intake)
- £27,611
- Source: British Airways (opens in a new tab)
- Heathrow engineering apprentices offered a permanent role
- 95%+
- Source: Heathrow (opens in a new tab)
- TfL Land Surveying degree apprenticeship pay
- £29,281
- Source: Transport for London (opens in a new tab)
Summary
- Transport apprenticeships cover aircraft, buses, trains, airports and the technology behind them.
- British Airways, TfL and Heathrow publish detailed programme information, and BA and TfL publish pay.
- Translink runs four-year engineering apprenticeships in Northern Ireland.
- Many engineering roles involve shifts, so check what your role needs.
Employers we profile in this industry
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British Airways
The UK airline, with apprenticeships in aircraft engineering, business and data science at Heathrow, Gatwick, Glasgow and Cardiff. Programmes last 18 months to four years and pay £15,643 to £27,611, with discounted flights.
Industry: Transport and aviation -
Heathrow
The UK's biggest airport. Its engineering apprenticeship trains you as an electromechanical technician, with BTEC and NVQ Level 3 qualifications and the option of an HNC, and more than 95% of apprentices are offered a permanent role.
Industry: Transport and aviation -
Network Rail
Runs the railway tracks, signals and stations across England, Scotland and Wales. It took on 290 apprentices in a year and 1,780 over five years, with Level 3, 4 and 6 programmes in engineering, IT, finance, HR, project management and AI.
Industry: Transport and aviation, Construction and infrastructure, Engineering and manufacturing -
Translink
Northern Ireland's public transport provider, running buses, Glider and trains. Its four-year engineering apprenticeships in bus and rail maintenance lead to NVQ Level 3, and anyone 16 or over can apply.
Industry: Transport and aviation -
Transport for London (TfL)
London's transport authority, running the Tube, buses and more. Its apprenticeships run from Level 3 to Level 6 in IT, finance, surveying, operations and engineering, paying £24,016 to £29,281.
Industry: Transport and aviation
Sources and review
Last reviewed . Details can change after this date, so check the official source before you rely on them.