Profiles

Stewart Close
Electronics and Software Engineering, Loughborough University
I've been interested in computers and electronics from quite a young age, so I decided early on I wanted a career in one of these fields. I stumbled across an ad for the NATS graduate scheme on a graduate-specific website and it sounded like an interesting place to work. I also thought the extensive training would help me towards my goal of becoming a Chartered Engineer. Read more

I moved from my home town of Watford to start work with NATS but I quickly made new friends with other people on the Engineering Graduate Scheme. I also joined the company football team (CTCFC) which has kept me active and helped me make more contacts within the business.

I've been at NATS for 3½ years and, currently, work as a Software Engineer in the Simulators department within the Voice Recognition team. My day job consists of designing and implementing software solutions for air traffic control simulators. More specifically, I've been working on a system which uses voice recognition software to help trainee air traffic controllers learn procedures and phraseology.

NATS really encourages current graduates to become involved in shaping the graduate training programme, as well as recruiting new graduates and placement students. This year, I've been directly involved in promoting the graduate scheme to universities and also with selection, including interviewing the new intake of placement students.

My advice to anyone starting the scheme would be to try and see as much of the company and your department as you can. Never be afraid to ask questions or ask for help - everyone in your department will be more than happy to lend a hand.

Jonathan Close
Computer Engineering, University of Portsmouth
I've wanted to be an inventor since before I can remember. When I was 10, I was ripping apart anything and everything to see what was inside. At 14 I was building my own computers; so my interests naturally progressed into engineering. When the time came to start thinking about a career, NATS was a natural choice. It offered by far the most impressive graduate scheme - and, if I'm honest, the air traffic control simulators they brought to the Portsmouth Graduate Fair also played their part. NATS seemed like a fascinating business. Read more

The Engineering Graduate Scheme has given me an excellent introduction to the company and provided me with the flexibility to work in many areas and make lots of useful contacts. It's been an incredibly enjoyable experience. My first few weeks were spent training; from the standard fire training to the more advanced radar and networking courses. All of this has proven to be extremely valuable in my job as it has given me a decent background understanding in most areas of the business so I can hit the ground running. I've also had the opportunity to get involved with lots of different work, including representing NATS at graduate fairs and building closer relationships with universities.

At the moment, I'm mainly involved with iFACTS (interim Future Area Control Tools Support); this system is currently under development and will introduce an additional screen for each Area Controller. This screen will show all possible aircraft interactions currently under control by that controller up to 18 minutes in advance. iFACTS will increase NATS' traffic handling capacity over the UK and improve safety. Working on this project has given me many opportunities; for instance, I have helped with hardware changes to improve the controller's workstations, helped design changes to interconnect iFACTS into existing systems and helped track progress of the project with project management. It has also given me the opportunity to work with controllers, engineers, human factors, military, project management and many other stakeholders.

The Graduate Scheme is the ideal first step on the road to becoming an experienced skilled engineer. To new starters, I'd say: take up extra little challenges to broaden your experience and network as much as possible.

Neil Close
Software Engineering, University of Portsmouth
I first came across NATS and its Engineering Graduate Scheme at a recruitment fair. Previously, I'd worked as a web designer, a database administrator and bug fixer for IBM on one of their leading database management products, but I was always looking to build on my past experience while exploring new areas. I took a closer look at the NATS website, liked the sound of what I read there and decided to apply. I certainly haven't been disappointed. Read more

In my first few weeks, I went through an air traffic control familiarisation course. This was useful in bringing me up to speed with what NATS did as a company and the continuous support and encouragement of my colleagues and the management was invaluable. The best way to learn is to use your initiative - and that's precisely what you're encouraged to do at NATS.

Since joining, I've worked for Simulator Systems where I've been involved in bug fixing the software which the controllers use both to train on and simulate potential future Air Traffic Control systems. I also set up the simulator for demonstration purposes at functions such as the ATC Global Exhibition in Amsterdam.

More recently, I've been working in Contingency. In the event of a catastrophic loss of an Air Traffic Control centre, it would be NATS' responsibility to provide a contingent service to get airlines flying again. My role involves making sure any changes or new projects are replicated in the Contingency Facility. I'm also responsible for updating documentation, identifying and resolving problems, and managing annual assurance activities to make sure the systems work. This experience has enabled me to get involved in a number of challenging, large-scale projects.

Overall, I'd say NATS offers a fun, diverse and exciting environment in which to work and develop. I'm constantly learning new things, I feel supported and I'm a valued member of the team. I also get great opportunities to work on interesting projects which significantly improves my skill set.

Rashed Close
Electronics and Computer Systems Engineering, University of Birmingham
I found out about NATS via my university. Working in the aviation industry was something that really appealed to me as it offered the ideal opportunity to put into practice what I'd learned in my degree course, so I didn't waste time in applying. Read more

I was preparing myself to do a lot of physical work, so I was ready with my tool belt on day one. However, as I quickly found out, engineering is not all about hands on work. It's more concerned with the thinking process and solving problems using engineering principles.

The scheme has given me an invaluable basis on which to build for the future. I really enjoy the work in general but the off-site week with the rest of the graduate intake stood out for me. This was a great way to meet the rest of the team and have a good laugh. I made some good friends and contacts that I know I can count on throughout my time at NATS. I also found the ATC Familiarisation course extremely useful as it helped me understand the world of Air Traffic Control and was a good way to get an overview of the business.

My recent achievements have included the successful delivery of a system that can define the aeronautical airspace for our new flight data processing system, which is due to replace our current system by 2014. This was a really good opportunity to take a lead engineering role on a project and see it through from start to finish. Another upside to this particular project was getting to visit our suppliers in Spain. They were a great bunch of people and it was really useful in terms of project development.

I think it's fair to say that my colleagues appreciate the level of knowledge I bring to my role - and they've helped me enormously. I'm very engaged on a day-to-day basis with my line manager too, so he's able to assess how well I'm progressing and what my strengths are in terms of competency, as well as identifying which areas need further development.

Right now, I'm going for IET Chartership (CEng). My IET mentor is assisting me with this and working on my long term goals. Whether I decide to officially register to take on four letters after my name is something I intend to consider closer to the time.

My advice to anyone starting out on the programme is quite simple: enjoy it. It's the ideal opportunity to understand what the company is about and how you fit into the organisation. Get to know the people around you too. If you build strong communication networks, they will help you professionally and socially. Never be afraid to ask for help; everyone is always there to help you succeed. And finally have some goals to work towards - both in the short and longer terms. This will keep you focused in your day-to-day work and give you a strong sense of direction of where you are going in life.

Dave Close
Computer Science, University of Portsmouth
I found out about NATS from a chance email. I'd never considered working in Air Traffic Control before but, after finding out more about the company, it seemed like an ideal opportunity. Before joining, I'd been working as a Software Developer at a London film studio but the idea of a structured training scheme in such a diverse industry was enough to tempt me away. I started my career as part of the 2009 intake and have never looked back. Read more

The job is definitely different from what I was expecting. NATS is a big company and offers the opportunity to get involved in all kinds of different work as a graduate engineer. So far this year my training has taken me all around the company, from the operations rooms at one of our control centres at Swanwick and the new Heathrow tower - which has a very cool external glass lift - to radar sites, air shows and our controller training college in Bournemouth.

Right now, I'm in a transition period between my second and third placements. I've just spent six months in the Simulators department as part of the Test and Integration team. This involved supporting some of the large scale simulations where the company experiments with new software or working practices. Now, I'm researching my next project within the new Support Information System team. This is an operational system currently being developed to replace the existing information system within the terminal control operations room. The project involves getting data feeds from airports and sensors all over the country, and uses them to provide the controllers with up-to-date information.

There are loads of benefits to being an engineering graduate at NATS; the opportunity to experience many different job roles through various placements is probably the greatest. When I first joined, I didn't have a set career plan or know what I really wanted to do. However, as you go through the various placements, you're exposed to new experiences which help you decide what you might like to do when you finish the scheme. My advice to a new starter would be to get involved in whatever is going on, both socially and professionally. The scheme provides loads of opportunities to do some really cool stuff, if you're ready and willing to look beyond your day job.