Lynn Graham: “Being an apprentice at Thales is fast-paced, interesting and fantastic!”

Glasgow might be Thales UK’s oldest site but this doesn’t mean it is stuck in its ways. Developing and training new and young apprentices makes Glasgow a hub for these individuals to learn the skills that have made Thales the sole supplier of submarine periscopes and masts to the Royal Navy since 1917.

It was this buzz around apprentice development that brought the Secretary of State, Vince Cable, to visit the Thales site and speak to some of the engineering and business apprentices currently placed in Glasgow. One of these graduates was Lynn Graham.

Now working for Bid & Project Management in Thales UK’s Land and Air Systems business, Lynn never thought she would be in this position. After her A Levels, Lynn took part in a therapy course but decided she wanted a change of direction. She says, “Having heard about Thales through family friends, the chance to develop my career at an international company greatly appealed to me”.

As a business apprentice, Lynn has been learning about how bid and project management operates as a function as well as undertaking a six month business qualification which will set her up for a career at Thales. The Thales business apprenticeship offers apprentices the unique opportunity to experience different functions and roles as well as learning transferrable skills for the future.

However, her role is not just confined to an office environment. “I’ve also had the opportunity to go onto the factory floor to look at cutting edge technology Thales makes at the Glasgow site. You don’t realise the extent of what Thales does until you spend time in the factories. Everyone would benefit from seeing what the engineers do. Finding out about all the Thales products is mind-blowing!”

But the best part of the apprenticeship experience is the people. She says, “Everyone at Glasgow site is really friendly. When people see a new face, they make a point of making them feel welcome.” She adds, “My colleagues are proud to work for Thales and when I first joined, people were really keen to tell me about the work they do and what they’ve achieved.”