Local youngsters urged to Reach for the Skies at airport’s first Aviation Careers Festival

LaurenTalkFest

Held at the East Midlands Aeropark – the aviation museum on the northern edge of the airport’s airfield - the inaugural event brought together 17 employers including the airport’s parent company Manchester Airports Group (MAG) with students from 18 schools and learners from 22 colleges

The students, aged 14-19, got the chance to take part in hands-on activities including:

•              Interactive exhibits: Attendees engaged with flight simulators, virtual reality tours and themed demonstrations, offering a realistic glimpse into aviation roles such as piloting, engineering and air traffic control

•              STEM workshops: Industry-led sessions explored aerodynamics, engineering principles and sustainability innovations, reinforcing the importance of STEM skills in aviation

•              Career speed networking: Young people connected directly with aviation professionals, gaining insights into career pathways and industry expectations

•              Food and entertainment: The festival featured food vans and fairground-style games to create a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere

•              Inclusive access: The event was designed to reach under-represented groups, including women, ethnic minorities and individuals with disabilities, through targeted outreach.

The aim was to inspire genuine career ambition by going further than a traditional careers fair with engaging hands-on experiences for the young attendees to explore, test, ask questions and picture themselves in real roles.

The festival, opened by local MP Amanda Hack, was the last of three events held across MAG airports including London Stansted and Manchester. They have been funded through the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Department for Transport’s Reach for the Skies initiative, which awarded £85,000 to help inspire future aviation talent. This creates a roadshow-style extension of the airport’s on-site Aerozone which is attended by around 1,300 local school children every year to give them an insight into the wide range of roles available in the aviation sector. The airport also offers on-site aviation courses run by Nottingham College at its Academy, as well as staging regular Jobs Fairs to connect local people with employment opportunities.

One of the speakers at the event was Lauren Turner, the airport’s Operations Director who was recently appointed by the Department for Transport as an Aviation Ambassador – a role which aims to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.

Lauren said: “This is the first time we have staged an Aviation Careers Festival, and it fits perfectly with my new role as Aviation Ambassador to help showcase opportunities for diverse and disadvantaged communities by shining a light on the wide range of aviation jobs that are available.

“The festival has been designed as an immersive, high impact event showcasing careers in action. Real professionals, real equipment and real experiences, enabling students to connect authentically with a diverse range of career pathways.

“We’re proud to host such an inspiring event for local young people. As one of the largest single-site employers in the East Midlands, the airport offers a huge range of exciting career paths, and this festival gives students the chance to experience that first-hand.”

Aviation, Decarbonisation, and Maritime Minister Keir Mather said: “We’re showing young people routes into aviation by investing £85,000 to support MAG careers fairs and festivals, including in the East Midlands – breaking down barriers to opportunity, highlighting skilled opportunities that deliver growth, and encouraging the next generation to aim for the sky.”

“The UK has a proud history in aviation, and we’re propelling this into the future by inspiring young people from all backgrounds to see the sector as a place where they can build their careers.”

Brenda Jefcoate, STEM Lead at the CAA, said: “These events are a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn about the huge variety of careers in aviation, and we’re really excited to be supporting Manchester Airports Group in encouraging the next generation. With new technologies and challenges on the horizon, bringing in new talent is essential for the aviation system to grow, and we’re keen to support similar projects that connect with local communities.”

Employers which took part are Jet2, Ryanair, Swissport, HMSHost by Avolta, Royal Aeronautical Society, Border Force East Midlands Airport, BAM, Nottingham College, Newark College, EMA National Police Air Service, CAA, Rolls Royce, SkyPeople Training, DHL, North West Leicestershire Police, Derbyshire Mountain Rescue Team, along with several teams from MAG.

Schools and colleges which took part are Castle Donington College, Chellaston Academy, Loughborough College, Horizons Sixth Form College, East Leake Academy, Woodbrook Vale, West Park School Derby College, Lees Brook Academy, Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology, Nottingham College, Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy, Mercia Academy, Allestree Woodlands School, Bluecoat Trent Academy, The de Ferres Academy, Leicester College, Air & Space Institute (Lincoln College) and West Nottingham College.