WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast Season 2, Episode 4: Reaching for the Stars with Airbus Apprentice Owen Price

WorkWise Apprenticeships

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Wednesday, 21 October 2026 - 11 minutes

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Could an apprenticeship really lead to a career working in the space industry?

In Episode 4 of Season 2 of the WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast, we're heading into the world of aerospace engineering as student interviewer Darcy talks to Owen Price, a Degree Apprentice with Airbus Defence and Space.

Owen is currently in the second year of his apprenticeship, combining university studies with practical experience at one of the world's major aerospace companies.

It's a fascinating example of how apprenticeships can open doors to careers that young people might never have considered, including opportunities in science, technology and space exploration.

Combining university with real-world experience

For many young people, deciding between university and an apprenticeship can feel like choosing between two very different paths.

But Owen's experience demonstrates that it doesn't necessarily have to be one or the other.

As part of his apprenticeship with Airbus Defence and Space, Owen is studying towards a degree in Space Systems Engineering at the University of Portsmouth.

He attends university every Monday and one Tuesday each month, spending the rest of his working time developing his skills and gaining experience within Airbus.

This approach allows him to combine academic learning with practical workplace experience, applying knowledge from his degree to the engineering environment.

It's one of the biggest advantages of a degree apprenticeship: the opportunity to work towards a university qualification while building experience in the industry you're hoping to develop a career in.

What does a Manufacturing and Process Engineer actually do?

Owen's main role at Airbus is as a Manufacturing and Process Engineer, a position that involves understanding how engineering processes work and how products are manufactured.

But his apprenticeship isn't limited to one department or set of responsibilities.

Owen has also had the opportunity to complete placements across different parts of the business, including spending around ten months working as an operator.

These experiences give him the chance to see how different teams work together and develop a wider understanding of the manufacturing process.

For someone starting out in engineering, experiencing different roles can be incredibly valuable, helping them discover their strengths, develop new skills and understand how their work contributes to the bigger picture.

A career that's looking towards the future

Away from his apprenticeship, Owen has a keen interest in space, technology and the big questions surrounding the future.

He enjoys exploring subjects where the answers aren't always clear, from how technology might develop over the coming decades to what we might discover about the universe.

It's an interest that fits naturally with a career in an industry where innovation and technological development are constantly creating new possibilities.

For young people interested in science, engineering or technology, Owen's journey highlights the variety of opportunities available through apprenticeships.

You don't necessarily have to follow a traditional university route to begin working towards a career in a highly technical industry.

Learning beyond the classroom

One of the recurring themes throughout WorkWise has been the value of gaining experience by actually doing the job.

Owen's degree apprenticeship provides an interesting perspective on that idea.

He's not simply studying engineering at university and waiting until graduation to enter the workplace. He's already gaining experience within the industry, learning from colleagues and seeing how the knowledge he's developing is applied in practice.

And through placements in different areas of Airbus, he's also discovering how the different parts of a large engineering organisation work together.

It's a combination of education, training and experience that can help build a strong foundation for a future career.

The students are back for Season 2

The first three episodes of Season 2 featured conversations with Mountjoy managers, exploring what employers look for when recruiting apprentices and how they support young people as they develop their careers.

Now, we're handing the microphones back to our student interviewers.

Over the coming episodes, they'll be meeting nine new apprentices from Airbus, Comserv and Portsmouth City Council, discovering how they found their opportunities, what their jobs involve and what advice they'd give to someone considering a similar route.

And we're starting with a career that might seem a world away from a traditional apprenticeship.

From studying Space Systems Engineering at the University of Portsmouth to gaining practical experience at Airbus Defence and Space, Owen's journey demonstrates just how varied modern apprenticeships can be.

An apprenticeship doesn't have to mean choosing between university and the workplace. Sometimes, you can experience both.

🎧 Season 2, Episode 4 of the WorkWise Apprenticeship Podcast, featuring Darcy talking to Owen Price, is available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Catch up with every episode and find out more about WorkWise at www.expressfm.com/workwise.

If you have any questions about the podcast, apprenticeships or Mountjoy please send us a message. 

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