Beating Talent Scarcity in Aviation

Airbus needed more Skilled Aircraft Fitters in a shrinking talent market

The Skilled Aircraft Fitter role follows strict criteria, and Airbus was facing a tough, rapidly shrinking pool of talent in the current landscape.

Guidant Global has supported Airbus as its main strategic procurement partner for contingent workforce hiring at Broughton for over two decades. That long-standing partnership meant Guidant understood both the operational importance of the Skilled Aircraft Fitter role and the difficulty of finding qualified people at the pace required.

The scale of the 2023 requirement made the issue sharper. Airbus needed to recruit 150 Skilled Aircraft Fitters, a record requirement for its contingent workforce, while the external market for qualified talent was becoming more constrained.

Rather than relying only on external hiring, th

e opportunity was to look inside the existing semi-skilled contingent workforce and create a route for loyal workers to build the qualifications, experience and confidence needed to progress.

Airbus needed more Skilled Aircraft Fitters in a shrinking talent market

The Skilled Aircraft Fitter role follows strict criteria, and Airbus was facing a tough, rapidly shrinking pool of talent in the current landscape.

Guidant Global has supported Airbus as its main strategic procurement partner for contingent workforce hiring at Broughton for over two decades. That long-standing partnership meant Guidant understood both the operational importance of the Skilled Aircraft Fitter role and the difficulty of finding qualified people at the pace required.

The scale of the 2023 requirement made the issue sharper. Airbus needed to recruit 150 Skilled Aircraft Fitters, a record requirement for its contingent workforce, while the external market for qualified talent was becoming more constrained.

Rather than relying only on external hiring, the opportunity was to look inside the existing semi-skilled contingent workforce and create a route for loyal workers to build the qualifications, experience and confidence needed to progress.

The role demanded specific qualifications, experience and commitment

Becoming a Skilled Aircraft Fitter requires recognised aerospace or engineering training, relevant hands-on experience and a qualification pathway that fits around operational shift patterns.

To meet the Skilled Aircraft Fitter criteria, candidates need a full apprenticeship in Aerospace or a relevant Engineering discipline. They also need previous experience in a similar role, such as Sheet Metal Worker, Metal Fabricator, Welder or Mechanical Fitter.

Candidates must hold one of the accepted qualifications, including Indenture and City & Guilds Level 2, BTEC ONC or Modern Apprenticeship Certificate, NVQ Level 2 or 3, Key Skills Level 2 and City & Guilds Level 2 / BTEC ONC in a recognised engineering field.

The challenge was not only finding people who could meet those requirements. It was building a practical development route that could work for adults already in employment, create minimal disruption for Airbus and give learners a credible path to promotion.

Guidant Global partnered with Coleg Cambria to upskill existing talent

To alleviate Airbus’ 2023 recruitment pressure, Guidant Global partnered with Coleg Cambria to upskill 20 Semi-skilled Aircraft Fitters through a 3½ year adult apprenticeship scheme.

The learners were Semi-skilled Aircraft Fitters, one step down from the skilled position. The level of interest was immediate: 98 applications were received, representing 57% of the semi-skilled contingent workforce.

Guidant Global also committed to monthly check-ins with the college to understand progress and identify whether any adjustments needed to be implemented as the programme developed.

A practical route to progression

The programme converted existing capability into an accessible development route for meeting an important workforce need.