The highly technical nature of the aircraft industry creates a huge need for skilled and well-qualified specialists. 
 
Airbus has three sites in France, located in Toulouse, Nantes and St. Nazaire. Each site runs apprenticeships to train people in the various techniques and processes involved in aircraft construction. Airbus trains in the following “core” professions also called “Airbus Key Competences”:

-     Lean
-     Configuration Management
-     Supply Chain Management
-     Composite Manufacturing Engineering & Assembly
-     Composite Design & Stress
-     Electrical Integration

Airbus also offers apprenticeships in:

-     Painting
-     Engineering
-     Management  

Successful candidates get a unique opportunity to work alongside fully-fledged Airbus employees, gaining invaluable experience in areas such as mechanics, electrics and outfitting.

Very close to an apprenticeship, from a training point of view, the “Contrat de Professionnalisation” is another scheme, which allows getting a professional qualification through a training system that alternates between theoretical, practical and on the job training.

Toulouse has a privately run vocational college:

The Lycée Professionnel Privé Lycée des Métiers de l'Aéronautique Airbus in Toulouse, for scholars aged 15 to 17 and ages above for apprentices.

It exists also the possibility to do your apprenticeship with other vocational colleges in Nantes, St. Nazaire and Toulouse. Applications will only be accepted if the student has the validation of a vocational college. Students from other nationalities also have the possibility to apply.

Please go to the EADS website to apply for an apprenticeship or “Contrat de Professionnalisation” position.

All students work within Airbus, while at the same time completing a course of studies adapted to the French national curriculum.

Introduction en français >>>