Ever wondered what it's like to work in an airport?
Well, two Edinburgh Airport apprentices might be able to help you there. Michael Taylor and Harry Chalmers each gave a fascinating insight into life at EDI, and what their typical day (if there is such a thing) involves.
Michael started out as a modern apprentice in 2016, one year after dropping out of university, and he now works as a fully qualified engineering technician.
He said: "As an apprentice, I gained knowledge of the airport and honed the skills that I still use day to day, working on the airfield, in the baggage hall, and in the terminal.
"The job involved, as it does now, performing routine maintenance, checks, scheduled and unscheduled repairs on things like air handling units, security equipment, building services and machines typically only used in airports such as baggage sorting systems and airfield lighting.
"On shift we also have to be ready to help in cases of emergency, such as during power outages or during accidents."
Michael explained there's more to being an Edinburgh Airport apprentice than just working in the airport itself.
He added: "As well as the day job, myself and the other apprentices would attend and present at high schools, conference centres, colleges, STEM events and Edinburgh Airport’s own visitor centre. There we would talk about and advertise our apprenticeships and run workshops for high school students through the Go4Set and Engineers of the Future programs.
"We would also compete in competitions such as Developing Young Workforces where we built a demonstration X-Ray belt exhibit and Fuel Change where we explored the use of repurposing retired aircraft as cheap housing."
Harry, an apprentice engineering technician, started at the airport in September 2018 having just completed a one-year pre-apprenticeship course at college.
He spoke about how much he enjoys the variety his role brings.
He said: "In my first two years at the Airport, I was day shift, working 7am-3pm Monday to Friday. I found the wide variety of work one of the most appealing aspects of working at the airport as every day is different – getting the opportunity to work on equipment in the baggage hall, up in security’s main central search hall, out in the substations and the airfield, whilst also fixing internal faults in the main terminal."
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In the third year of his apprenticeship his shift pattern changed and he ended up working seven day shifts and seven night shifts each month.
He added: "This enabled me to further develop my skills and work directly with my team leader and deputy team leader.
"Going on to shift gave me the opportunity to work nights and become familiar with all the jobs that take place at this time. I got a lot more experience working in the baggage hall and out on the airfield, as well as doing jobs in the terminal that can’t take place during the day."
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Michael and Harry were sharing their stories as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2022.
For more information on careers and jobs at Edinburgh Airport click here.
