Thales Business Apprenticeship: “Fast-paced, Interesting and Fantastic!”

Lynn Graham, a Business Apprentice in Glasgow, is five weeks into a four year apprenticeship and she’s enjoying every minute!

Currently working for Land and Air Systems (LAS) in a Gate support role for Bids & Project Management, Lynn has already completed a stint in Buyer support, contacting suppliers to confirm delivery dates for parts. She says, “The Thales Business Apprenticeship gives me a unique opportunity to experience different functions and roles; I get a taste of the different bits of LAS while building a clearer picture of the Country Business Unit (CBU) as a whole as well as learning transferable skills.”

“Fast-paced, interesting and fantastic!”

However, Lynn’s background is very different from the world she’s currently working in. After completing her A Levels, Lynn attended a complimentary therapy course for a couple of years, but decided she wanted a change of direction. “I’ve always known about Thales as a family friend works for the company” she said. The real draw for me is that it’s such a large and international company.

In her current placement, Lynn has been attending Gate meetings and although initially intimidating, they’ve been invaluable in helping her understand how Bids & Project Management operates as function. “It took me a couple of meetings to get my head around all the acronyms but with a bit of research and the support of my team, I’m really enjoying the challenge.”

Lynn is also undertaking a six month business qualification in tandem with her on-site training which she hopes will set her up for a career at Thales. “I would love to work for Thales long-term. I’m not yet sure in what capacity but the company is very interesting and meeting people who have worked here for over 20 years is a great endorsement for the company.”

And the best part of the apprenticeship experience: the people. “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.”

Lynn has also spent time on the shop-floor. She explained, “I spent a day in the clean rooms that work on lasers and I’ve also had the opportunity to go up to the fourth floor of Factory South to look at the periscopes as they’re being tested. 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!”

So how would Lynn sum up her first few weeks at Thales? “Fast-paced, interesting and fantastic!”