London Gatwick launches applications for its 2026 engineering apprenticeships as National Apprenticeship Week kicks off
- Applications open from 10 February to 2 March, with apprentices starting in mid‑August
- Four exciting engineering apprenticeship opportunities available in Electro/Mechanical and Heavy Vehicle pathways
- London Gatwick to host its third on‑site Apprenticeship Fair as part of National Apprenticeship Week celebrations
Applications have opened today (10 February) for London Gatwick’s acclaimed apprenticeship programme, giving aspiring engineers the chance to launch their careers in an innovative and fast‑paced airport environment.
This year, the airport is recruiting three Electro/Mechanical apprentices and one Heavy Vehicle apprentice, all due to start in August.
Across both pathways, apprentices will work at the heart of the world’s busiest single-runway airport – gaining practical experience on specialist systems, tackling real engineering challenges and learning from experienced teams who drive the airport’s operational excellence.
The Electro/Mechanical apprenticeship is a four‑year programme beginning at Level 3. In years three and four, apprentices progress to a Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC) in engineering, graduating with both Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications and Engineering Technician (EngTech) professional registration.
The Heavy Vehicle apprenticeship, a three-year programme also beginning at Level 3, leads to professional membership on completion.
Applications are open from 10 February to 2 March via London Gatwick’s apprenticeship webpage. Learn more about these opportunities and how to apply here.
Owen Pugh, third year apprentice, London Gatwick said: “Applying for this apprenticeship was one of the best decisions I have made. At London Gatwick, you gain hands-on experience on a wide range of engineering practices. You get the opportunity to work with many engineering teams such as the airfield lighting team to the specialist systems team. We get the opportunity to study as well as gain experience and knowledge from expert engineers. If you enjoy working practically, problem-solving and working with an amazing team I would highly recommend applying!”
Dave White, Apprentice Development Lead, London Gatwick said: “Opening applications for our apprenticeship programme is always a special moment. London Gatwick is an extraordinary place to learn – no two days are the same and our apprentices work with an impressive range of systems and technology, gaining invaluable experience.
“These programmes give people the skills, confidence and professional qualifications to build long‑term engineering careers. We’re passionate about developing future talent and helping people take their first steps into a truly rewarding profession. We can’t wait to welcome the next cohort later this year.”
Alongside welcoming its next cohort, London Gatwick continues to support and inspire future talent across the region. As part of National Apprenticeship Week, colleagues from across London Gatwick will be taking part in a series of outreach activities, from presenting at local schools to an apprenticeship careers broadcast, designed to inspire and educate young people on how to succeed in early careers roles.
The week will also see London Gatwick host its third on‑site Apprenticeship Fair. Building on last year’s success, the event has attracted more than 300 bookings and will welcome over 15 employers from the airport and its partners, including airlines, construction, airport operations, hospitality, retail and transport organisations.
Alongside employer stands, the fair will feature a programme of talks and interactive sessions throughout the day, including presentations from current London Gatwick apprentices and the latest graduate cohort. These sessions will give attendees first‑hand insight into working at a major international airport and the early careers more broadly.
With 43m annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top 10 airports. It is a vital piece of national infrastructure that drives both the national and regional economies by generating £5.5bn GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs (2023). Almost 60 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 50 long-haul destinations. With a declared capacity of 55 movements an hour, London Gatwick is the most efficient single runway airport in the world.
The airport is located 28 miles south of the UK capital and is extremely well-connected, with more than a quarter of England’s population (15m people) – including all of London – less than one hour away by road or rail. A six-year, £2bn sustainable growth programme includes an ambitious plan to be a net zero airport by 2030 and to increase capacity by bringing the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway. VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99%. With 43m annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top 10 airports. It is a vital piece of national infrastructure that drives both the national and regional economies by generating £5.5bn GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs (2023). Almost 60 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 50 long-haul destinations. With a declared capacity of 55 movements an hour, London Gatwick is the most efficient single runway airport in the world.
The airport is located 28 miles south of the UK capital and is extremely well-connected, with more than a quarter of England’s population (15m people) – including all of London – less than one hour away by road or rail. A six-year, £2bn sustainable growth programme includes an ambitious plan to be a net zero airport by 2030 and to increase capacity by bringing the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway. VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99%.
VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world, manages the development and operation of more than 70 airports located in 14 countries. VINCI Airports draws on its expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports, leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise operational performance and modernise infrastructure while bringing about their environmental transition. In 2016, VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy, setting itself the aim of reaching zero net emissions (scope 1 and 2) across the network by 2050 while supporting the territories’ local climate transition.
For more information:
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, is a leading infrastructure investor that specialises in investing in, owning and operating some of the largest and most complex assets across the energy, transport, digital infrastructure and water and waste management sectors. With energy pragmatism central to our investment thesis, we are well positioned to support the global energy transition.
GIP’s scaled platform has over $170bn in assets under management. We believe that our focus on real infrastructure assets, combined with our deep proprietary origination network and comprehensive operational expertise, enables us to be responsible stewards of our clients’ capital and to create positive economic impact for communities. For more information, visit www.global-infra.com.
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London, UK, 28 January 2026
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