Four years of hard work has paid off for a trio of Norfolk apprentices after they graduated from an aviation training scheme with flying colours.

Ben Mann from Sprowston, Arran Bennett from Hellesdon, both near Norwich, and Jake Currell from Bradwell, near Great Yarmouth, are all graduates of the KLM UK Engineering's flagship apprenticeship scheme.

The intensive study, including 12 exams have been rewarded with Civil Aviation Authority Category A Mechanic licences, which means the three are now qualified to work on holiday jets, freight planes and regular passenger aircraft which are flown in to Norwich from all over Europe – and beyond – for highly-specialised precision maintenance and servicing.

Paul Chün, managing director at KLM UK Engineering said: 'Following the substantial investment we have made in them, we were pleased to be able to offer them a full time, permanent position within the company and look forward to watching their career develop in the future.'

Each graduate said they were very grateful for the culture of helpfulness which existed among the other engineers at KLM UK Engineering. They enjoyed the huge variety of tasks their day-to-day work involved. Ben and Arran said they particularly loved working on wings and engines, while Jake singled out the pleasure of working as a team to dismantle and reassemble large aircraft components.

Ben, 20, a former Hellesdon High School pupil, said: 'That will be a good step up to becoming a supervisor. It does mean having to self-study at home after a hard day's work but it will be well worth it.'

Jake, also 20, a former Lynn Grove High School pupil in Gorleston, said: 'Working with other engineers to remove an aircraft's landing gear is very satisfying. My most recent assignment was to reinstall an aircraft rudder; when it is done, it's great to step back, look at the finished work and realise you've helped to do that.

'Before I started I didn't know what I wanted to do; I'd never even picked up a spanner. Four years on I'm handling all sorts of sophisticated tools as a matter of routine.'

'It's one of those jobs where you are happy to get out of bed and look forward to another unique day in the hangar and on the tools.'

Arran 21, who lives within walking distance of the KLM hangars at Norwich International Airport, said he was grateful to the firm's head of HR, Kerry Flower, for her support, since he first joined the firm.

'I was in the middle of a two-year course in mechanical engineering at City College Norwich,' he said. 'There was only one thing I was prepared to quit my college course for – and that was to work on aircraft. To be offered an apprenticeship right on my doorstep, at the only aircraft maintenance company for miles, was a dream come true.'

The graduation ceremony comes as KLM UK Engineering announced its core role in the recently unveiled Norwich International Aviation Academy which will provide education and skills training within the aviation industry.

It's hoped the Academy will further enhance East Anglia's reputation in the industry by leading the training and development of a new generation of aviation professionals.