Airports aim for new heights at Youth Summit
The UK’s only airport Youth Summit took place this week to discuss how to achieve a sustainable future for aviation.
Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports, set up youth forums at each of its airports four years ago as part of the group’s commitment to broaden its existing programme of stakeholder consultation and engagement with communities neighbouring its airports.
This was the third year that all three forums convened for the Group’s Youth Summit, held on Wednesday 11 March at East Midlands Airport’s Leonardo Hotel. Under the theme ‘MAG – growing into the Future,’ around 80 young people attending the event took part in discussions which will help MAG shape its plans for growth.
Sessions also included equity, diversity and inclusion, MAG’s plans and opportunities outside the UK and opening and closing remarks from the airport’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths and MAG’s Head of Noise and Community Engagement Strategy Sue Thomas.
MAG’s Growth agenda has been the theme for the airports’ Youth Forums this year, looking at MAG’s investment programmes, growth strategies for all three airports, as well as how MAG airports minimise the impact of growth through its well-established Sustainability Strategy.
East Midlands Airport’s Operations Director Lauren Turner who was recently appointed by the Department for Transport as an Aviation Ambassador to promote the sector to the younger generation and under-represented groups, also spoke at the event.
She said: “There’s a huge variety of roles available in the aviation sector, from aircraft crews, security officers and ground handling crews to jobs in hospitality, retail and customer services. All of MAG’s airports are fully committed to providing education, training and opportunities for young people with our on-site Aerozones and Academies.
“As an Aviation Ambassador, I’m keen to use every opportunity to raise awareness of the many careers paths available to suit every skillset and use my own experiences to inspire young people, especially young women, to consider roles in aviation. Our Youth Summit is a great place to do that, as well as hearing from young people about how they would like to see the sector develop in the future.”
MAG is the UK’s largest airports group which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports. Last year, the Group served 54m passengers. With its Sustainability Strategy - creating a sustainable future for all, MAG is committed to making its own operations net zero by 2038.
The opportunity to become a member of MAG’s Youth Forum is open to young people aged between 17-25 who are either in an Apprenticeship, or attending a local Sixth form, College or University. For more information or to apply to become a member of one of our Youth Forums please email:
· East Midlands Airport - community@eastmidlandsairport.com
· Manchester Airport – community@manairport.co.uk
· Stansted Airport - community@stanstedairport.com