RAF Air & Ground Steward - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

A unique opportunity to complete an advanced apprenticeship as an Air & Ground Steward with an OFSTED outstanding training provider. You will be working on some of the most advanced aircraft in the world and play a key part in the UKs defence. With places available throughout the year, apply today!

Wage

£25,200 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Pay will increase incrementally each year.

Training course

Cabin crew (level 3)

Hours

Shifts to be confirmed on assignment to your first station after training.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

24

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Once fully trained in Catering Hospitality and RAF Cabin Crew duties you will be responsible for the comfort, safety and welfare of passengers travelling on 10 Sqn or 101 Sqn Voyager aircraft based at RAF Brize Norton.

Your duties will include:

Greeting passengers as they board and exit the plane
Providing special attention to passengers as required
Serving meals and refreshments
Checking the condition and provision of on-board emergency equipment and information for passengers, demonstrating emergency equipment and safety procedures
As well as administering first aid and dealing with passenger or crew emergencies

Having gained Voyager experience you could competitively transfer to 32 (The Royal) Squadron, fly on the BAe 146 aircraft based at RAF Northolt and routinely fly with Royals, The Prime Minister and senior members of the Cabinet and HM Forces.

After your first flying tour, unless you transfer to 32 (TR) Sqn, you will be employed on the ground, for at least one tour; supporting unit food services with our industry partners or as a member of 3 Mobile Catering Sqn, at RAF Wittering, providing military field catering on Operations and Exercises worldwide. Returning to Cabin Crew duties, after a ground tour, will be voluntary or to meet the need of the Service.

Where you'll work

Nottingham
NG1 2ND

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

ROYAL AIR FORCE

Your training course

Cabin crew (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Liaise with the customer, airport, ground staff, suppliers and colleagues to ensure the efficient loading of catering and ancillary items and boarding procedures meet service standards and aviation regulations.
Proactively address issues that arise during boarding, making effective decisions to ensure a satisfactory outcome and on time departure
Monitor cabin environment, appearance and on board facilities to ensure customer satisfaction and adherence to operational standards, and using controls to adjust it
Communicate effectively with customers, flight and cabin crew and other parties in the event of disruption, keeping them informed of progress, actions and results
Follow procedures to assist passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) or other requirements for special assistance
Address complex customer needs to ensure service standards and individual requirements are maintained
Complete the on board food, beverage and retail service provided by the organisation in line with standards and quality measures*
Communicate effectively with colleagues, flight crew, ground operational teams and customers at appropriate times to ensure service efficiency, safety and security and timely reporting of defective equipment is maintained
Conduct in flight checks and monitor customers and onboard facilities
Ensure post service requirements are completed, including reconciliations of stock / money or cash equivalents as required
Communicate and co-ordinate with flight crew, colleagues, customer and ground staff to ensure disembarkation procedures meet safety and service standards
Address issues that arise during disembarkation making effective decisions to ensure a satisfactory outcome
Ensure post flight requirements are completed including security of on-board resources and adherence to local regulations and practices as required
Participate in post flight debrief and duties.
Ensure self and team monitor and apply the compliance legislation, procedures and regulations commensurate to your role
Identify risks and non-compliance, ensuring corrective actions are taken or situations are escalated in accordance with organisation’s procedures
Identify and address / report actual or potential hazards
Record and report safety and security incidents including self-reporting when required
Actively engage in a safe, open and honest working environment
Work with the team to maintain brand / organisational standards at all times and identify and address any potential risks according to organisational procedures
Make decisions that satisfy the needs of the customer while delivering for the organisation
Achieve and aim to exceed commercial targets by applying techniques that are appropriate to all customer profiles
Apply principles of Cockpit/Crew Resource Management (CRM) and human factors

Your training plan

On successful completion of the application and selection process, your apprenticeship will start with a 10-week Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire
The course is designed to help you adjust to a military environment. As well as fitness and military training, you’ll also learn about the RAF lifestyle
All entrants will complete specialist food service training at the Food Services Training School (Air) at Worthy Down, pre-employment land and sea survival training at Defence Survival Training Organisation, RAF St Mawgan. Decompression Training at the Aviation Medicine
Training Wing, RAF Henlow and A330-200 Cabin Crew training at the Air Tanker Academy, RAF Brize Norton, before finishing their flying training with Sqn instructors on 10 Sqn/101 Sqn

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English Language (grade Minimum grade 1)
Mathematics (grade Minimum grade 1)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Team working
Initiative
Physical fitness

Other requirements

The role is varied and, after training, you could be stationed across the UK and beyond. You must also be able to swim 100 metres, tread water for 2 minutes and get out of the pool at the deep end unaided and fully clothed.

About this company

The Royal Air Force work with our UK and international partners to watch the skies, respond to threats, prevent conflict, and provide assistance in an uncertain world. We provide all personnel with a varied range of training and activities to make sure you're ready for anything. A career in the Royal Air Force will provide you with a whole host of possibilities. You will receive world class training, allowing you to learn and develop throughout your career. We recruit throughout the year, so please ignore the closing and start dates.

https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

The apprenticeship is a gateway to a full-time career in the Royal Air Force
Promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is dependent on successful completion of the apprenticeship and then on merit by competitive selection
As you advance through the ranks, you will have the increased opportunity to lead and direct people, managing resources and workforce within your area of work to deliver the required outputs whilst maintaining and instilling the highest standards expected within the RAF

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ROYAL AIR FORCE

0345 6055555

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000273519.

Apply now

Closes on Saturday 30 August 2025

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

You'll be directed through to the RAF Recruitment Website where more detail on the role is available. We have positions available for this role throughout the year and the process can take a few months. Once you have completed an application you will be invited to complete an aptitude assessment, selection interview, health assessment and a fitness test. More details of the requirement can be found at the application link.

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RAF Air & Ground Steward - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship

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