The RAE Apprentice scheme was first recorded in 1910 with three 'lads of trade' as they were then known entering the H.M. Balloon Factory at Farnborough, the precursor of the Royal Aircraft Establishment. The first formal entry, by written examination and interview, took place in September 1918 with 51 Trade Lads entering a 5 year apprenticeship. The last intake of apprentices at RAE Farnborough was in 1992 with 12 apprentices concluding 82 years of continuous training apart from 1920 when there was no intake.

Many different types of apprenticeships were provided from Graduate Engineer, Student and Technical, Drawing Office, and Craft disciplines in Aircraft, Avionics, Electronics/Electrical and Mechanical skills. In all approximately 5000 apprentices have passed through R.A.E. Farnborough alone.

Apprenticeships have also been offered at the various R.A.E. outstations including Aberporth, Bedford, Larkhill and West Freugh. The National Gas Turbine Establishment, N.G.T.E. also provided apprenticeships and many of these apprentices and those from the outstations undertook part of their training at Farnborough.

Famous old boys include John Farley, chief test pilot of the Harrier jump jet, Air Vice-Marshall Sir Michael Alcock, and the late Sir Robert Hardingham, former head of the Civil Aviation Authority. R.A.E. apprentices' expertise was employed in many of Britain's and Europe's aviation milestones, including the first swing-wing aircraft and Concorde. Ex-apprentices can be found in all sectors of the Aerospace industry and many other varied industries throughout the world.

Although apprenticeships at Farnborough ceased in 1992 they currently still continue at Aberporth.

The Establishment's apprentice educational training was started in 1917 and by 1918, the first planned training scheme was inaugurated. In 1944 the "Trade Lads" school title was changed to the R.A.E Technical School and this subsequently became the R.A.E. Technical College in 1946. During the period 1960 to 1962 the R.A.E. Technical College courses were integrated into the Farnborough Technical College, now the Farnborough College of Technology.