Project Management Degree Apprenticeship

Location: Portsmouth, United Kingdom

Job Description

Start date: 31st August 2027

Location: Airbus Defence & Space Portsmouth

Duration: 4 years

University: University of Portsmouth

Degree: BSc (Hons) Project Management

Application closing date: Applications will be open until 26 October 2026. After this date, the advert will close once sufficient applications are received. Early submission is recommended.

We love your interest in joining Airbus! There is no limit on the number of positions you can apply for. However, please be aware that you can only progress in the selection process for one position at a time. We recommend reviewing all available opportunities and applying to those that best match your experience and aspirations.

Benefits

Salary: £23,000

37 hours per week //  Half day Fridays!* // 25 days holiday plus bank holidays // Pension // Success share // Plus many more flexible benefits!

• subject to completing full hours prior to this

About us

Ever thought about being a project manager in the biggest Space company in Uk & Europe, contributing to the delivery of the largest space craft in the UK?

Because that's what we do in Portsmouth; we design, build and test satellites!

What do we make? Advanced satellites that help monitor climate change, keep the world connected, and even power your favourite TV shows. (Yep, all national satellite TV in the UK? That’s us.)

Our team in Portsmouth builds the “brains” of the satellite – the payload. It’s where the real magic happens, and we lead the world in some of the tech we make and use!

The satellites we help build weigh up to 6 tonnes and are launched into space to beam TV, internet, and secure communications around the globe – including to military teams on the move.

Oh, and it’s not just about space. We also support maritime satellite terminals – that means keeping ships and crews connected across oceans, no matter where they are in the world. So yes, you could help connect people literally everywhere – from sea to sky.

Whether you’re into tech, space, creativity, or just want to work on something that actually matters – this could be your launchpad. We need project managers in production, procurement, planning, scheduling, and many other business functions.

Apprentices join us from all different backgrounds, from all over the UK! So no matter where you're from, what school or college you went to, we encourage you to apply!

Click here  for more details.

What you will be doing

Our Level 6 project Management Apprenticeship Pathway

Being a degree apprentice at Airbus Defence and Space means you will get to develop skills across a range of project manager competencies and skills, across placements within the business. Taking responsibility for updating your own project plans and schedules, ensuring deliveries are on time, cost and quality, managing risk and issues and providing regular reports to all project stakeholders. Through-out your journey, you will be surrounded by technical experts, industry leaders and fellow early careers.

What will you study?

You will study towards an BEng (Hons) in Project Management at Portsmouth University in a day release format.

We have been collaborating with Portsmouth University on the delivery of this course for some years, and therefore you will join early careers cohorts who are already in the later years of their programmes, bringing a strong peer support network when you start. See more details of the course here.

What will you do?

We have an apprenticeship where you can learn to (amongst other things)…

Learn and understand the roles of project managers across the business: Project Management Office (PMO), Project Manager, Procurement and Supplier Management, Production and facility management;

Collaborate with multi-functional teams to deliver the latest internal projects;

Manage supplier relationships;

Manage and report on budgets;

Forward Load planning;

Improvement and Performance management;

Risk management;

Support bids, tenders and contract management;

Work closely with mentors while progressing through university studies and structured on-the-job training.

• Depending on project timescales, work load and availability, some elements described above may not be achieved over the placement rotations - but your personal development criteria and interests will be reviewed and reasonable adjustments can be made if necessary.

Structure

The apprenticeship programme is 4 years, broken down into two core phases;

Year 1 & 2

80% on Site, over a planned structure of internal placements across the business lines;

20% Day Release study at Portsmouth University.

Year 3

Specialise towards permanent role;

80% on site, developing speciality competencies into "hiring department";

Year 4

Complete Degree (20% Day Release study at Portsmouth University until conclusion);

Complete the End Point Assessment (part of the apprenticeship);

Securing your "permanent role" as you leave the apprenticeship and enter the business as a full time employee.

We have a broad range of engineering disciplines on site, which can provide you with an equally broad range of experiences during the rotation phase.

You will be part of an apprenticeship cohort during the programme. You will work closely together to succeed during your learning, projects and events at work or at college, and extra curricular events such as the Outward Bound week and Outreach activities.

Requirements

In order to be eligible to this apprenticeship, you must have a minimum of:

104 UCAS points made up of 2 or 3 A levels at BCC or above which must include relevant subjects such as Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Physics and Electronics

OR

BTEC extended diploma at DMM or above

T Level at Merit or above

AND

GCSE with grade C/4 or above in Maths and English Language or Functional Skills

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the fol