UK aerospace giants step up efforts to inspire the engineers of the future as ASG Aerospace builds up to apprenticeship open day

The UK aerospace sector is showing renewed momentum in developing the next generation of engineers, with major manufacturers and SMEs alike investing in skills, apprenticeships and hands-on training pathways that respond to both industry demand and changing attitudes to education.

This week’s announcement that Airbus will open a flagship Aerospace Skills Academy near Bristol in 2026 is a high-profile example of that commitment. Delivered in partnership with Weston College and supported by industry names including Babcock, GKN and Rolls-Royce, the new academy will focus on aerospace, defence and advanced manufacturing skills, strengthening an already significant South West aerospace cluster.

While such announcements inevitably attract attention, they also reflect a much broader shift across the sector. From global primes to regional specialists, aerospace businesses are increasingly recognising that building long-term capability means meeting young people – and career changers – where they are, and offering credible alternatives to traditional academic routes.

Across the UK, manufacturers are opening their doors, demystifying engineering careers and showing how modern aerospace combines digital skills, precision manufacturing and global opportunity. Recent initiatives from companies such as Moog Aircraft Group, which has highlighted the benefits of its apprenticeship programmes at its Tewkesbury smart factory, underline how structured training, mentoring and real-world experience can deliver both technical excellence and inclusive career progression.

Within the ASG Group, this philosophy is firmly embedded. One example is ASG Produmax, the Group’s world class high precision machining and assembly specialist based in Baildon, West Yorkshire, which holds regular apprenticeship open days aimed at giving people a first-hand view of aerospace manufacturing.

Following an over subscribed event in February 2025, ASG Produmax will host its next Apprenticeship Open Morning on Saturday 28 February 2026. The event is designed to provide an authentic, practical insight into life inside a working aerospace facility, rather than a classroom simulation.

Visitors can expect guided tours of the site, showcasing state-of-the-art CNC machinery and the end-to-end manufacturing processes behind safety-critical aerospace components. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet current and former apprentices, engineers and production specialists, offering honest perspectives on training, career development and progression within the industry.

Importantly, the open day also highlights the breadth of engineering disciplines involved in modern aerospace, from CAD/CAM, manufacturing design, robotics and automation, assembly, metrology, quality assurance and lean manufacturing. For students weighing up post-GCSE or A-level options – and for adults considering a career change – it provides a clear view of how apprenticeships can lead to long-term, globally relevant careers.

As a supplier of components and assemblies for major aerospace programmes, ASG Produmax’s approach reflects a wider sector reality: sustaining growth, resilience and innovation depends on a skilled pipeline of engineers who understand both advanced technology and rigorous quality standards.

The emergence of new academies, combined with grassroots initiatives such as open days and local outreach, suggests the aerospace sector is increasingly aligned on this challenge. High-profile investments help set direction, but it is the cumulative impact of employers across the supply chain that ultimately turns interest into capability.

For those interested in attending the ASG Produmax Apprenticeship Open Morning or learning more about future events, registration details are available by emailing info@produmax.co.uk or by visiting produmax.co.uk for the latest updates.