Jessica Chatburn

"Hello, I'm Jessica, I'm 23 and originally from Burnley. I have been living and working in Bristol now for 5 years since I moved down here for my apprenticeship. I'm dyslexic and a Neurodiversity champion within my company. The results from the quiz say I'm a Coordinator, Manager and Trainer. I'd like to think I was good at communicating and being able to understand how to get others motivated within a team. Within my job its important to be able to work with others and listen to their ideas as well as being able to speak up about your own. As I'm part of the new generation of engineers it's important to discuss new ideas people my have. Another aspect of my job relies on me to produce the work I've been assigned to do on time and within budget, this means I need to be reliable and trustworthy. "

"I'm a Aerospace Design Engineer at Airbus. I completed my aerospace engineering apprenticeship in December 2023 and now I'm working full time in the Wide Body Design team. This team covers all aircraft that do long range flight such as the A330, A380 and A350 which I am currently working on. In my team we look at the design structure of the wings and are responsible for day-to-day in service occurrence management as well as cost reduction activities. My work includes creating and updating 3D models and 2D drawings of various parts and assemblies used on the wing, in between contributing to different investigations and assessments. The job often involves coordinating with other Airbus engineering functions, suppliers and partners. Over the last 4 years I've studied to achieve a degree in aerospace engineering as well as working in an international company. This has allowed me to develop my technical and practical skills within the industry. I've had placements across the business in Design, Stress, Lab work, Manufacturing Engineering and Overall Aircraft Design (concept Design). "

"Before the Apprenticeship I hadn't had an office role, I've worked as a sales assistant at two different retail stores. During school, I did work experience with an architects firm, a construction company and a fabric supplier company. I achieved my GCSEs and then went on to study Alevels (Maths, Physics and Fine Art) at College. I applied to 3 different apprenticeship schemes as well as applying to University whilst I was in my final year of College. I was accepted on to the Airbus Apprenticeship Scheme in 2018 and completed the scheme in 2022 achieving a first class honours degree in Aerospace Engineering.This apprenticeship was full time for 4 years; studying at the University of the west of England on day release, and working at Airbus' Filton site for the rest of the time. I undertook placements in several areas of the business, ranging from the stress and design offices, to hands-on lab work in the test facilities. I worked both on current Airbus projects, and also looked at future designs in the Research and Technology team. These placements improved my knowledge and understanding of engineering, and have allowed me to become a well-rounded engineer. I started my full time role as a Design Engineer in January 2023. I have always had an interest in physics, space and engineering. I consider myself to be creative and hardworking; with an eye for detail and design. I am observant and enjoy developing a solution to a problem. I love the design and manufacturing elements of engineering, and want to build and design machines with unique style and exceptional functionality. Engineering has allowed me to use both my scientific mind and creative talents.I wanted to be a women in engineering, to promote STEM and help encourage others to join the industry!"

"As well as maths and science, I also like being creative whether that's through drawing/painting, photography or building something. I love drawing portraits of my family members and friends as it's always a nice surprise for them to receive it as a gift. I enjoy taking photos of my travels and anything I see which catches my eye. One of my plans is to go stargazing and use my camera to take pictures of the moon. I love building Lego and my next purchase will be another set of lego flowers. Lego has always been part of my life since I was younger as me and my dad used to create the biggest and best models we could think of. I love going to music festivals and concerts, travelling and finding new hobbies. I've recently bought a paddleboard and I’m looking forward to taking it out on the water. I used to do Jiu Jitsu and I’m currently looking at starting a new type of martial arts. I like going to gym classes and catching up with my friends and family when I can. I enjoy trying new things and look forward to ticking more things off my bucket list!"

"Throughout the apprenticeship I've worked on many projects for different teams, this has allowed me to experience various aspects of the business. For example, I've worked closely with the production team to produce wings for the A400M, I've also designed components on 3D CAD software. I'm currently working on my dissertation, this is the largest project I've had to manage and run myself. The project uses Python scripts which I've had to learn on the job. In my role as a Design Engineer, I have had the opportunity to travel to the different Airbus Sites and see different suppliers. I spend most of my time at a computer looking at 3D models, drawings or working on modifications for a design and working out how to implement them. I have opportunities to present to chief engineers and managers in design reviews. I communicate with our suppliers via emails and meetings to discuss topics and any queries. "

"I went to College and attained Alevels in Maths (B), Physics (C) and Fine Art (A). I applied to the Apprenticeship at Airbus whilst in my final year of college and I was accepted. During my Apprenticeship, I achieved a first class honours degree in Aerospace Engineering (BEng), a Level 4 Diploma in Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing and a Level 2 Diploma in Aerospace and Aviation Engineering. "