Manchester Airport hosts its first Aviation Careers Festival

Above: The festival took place under the wings of Concorde at the Runway Visitor Park.
Courtesy MAG

Yesterday’s full-day event hosted more than 40 exhibits from the airport and a range of partners, with stands placing an emphasis on interactive activities, rather than pens and pamphlets, allowing young people to get hands-on with their potential career ambitions.

Among the unique exhibits on show was a 360-degree flight simulator, demos of various airport vehicles and firefighting equipment, an AI photobooth where youngsters could try on virtual uniforms and get a printed picture and an exhibit from a hotel group with a competitive challenge for pupils to make beds as quickly as possible. Other exhibits offered the chance to virtually try their hand at everything from airport security to guiding a plane in to land.

A 200-seat theatre in the RVP’s Concorde Hangar saw the airport’s Chief Operating Officer Pete Lederer open the event and also hosted a range of talks and round tables, including a Q&A session for pupils with an all-female panel of aviation professionals – from pilots to engineers and air traffic controllers – which was recorded for a one-off special episode of the airport’s official podcast.

Employers represented at the festival included:

• Airlines and travel companies, including Virgin Atlantic, Jet2.com, easyJet and TUI.
• Aircraft manufacturer, Airbus
• Retailers, hoteliers and franchise operators, including HMSHost, World Duty Free and Delta Hotels
• Airport partners and service providers, ranging from Greater Manchester Police and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to NATS Air Traffic Control, CAVU, airline supplier Dnata and Dnata Catering, along with passenger mobility assistance provider ABM

Also present were Trafford & Stockport College Group, highlighting aviation-based courses and the airport’s Youth Forum and Early Talent teams – giving pupils the chance to find out more about routes into the careers they discovered in the exhibition area.

The festival was part funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), as part of its commitment to opening up pathways into careers in the aviation sector.

Marcella M’Rabety – Head of Social Sustainability, Manchester Airport, said: "It has been fantastic to see so many young people here and to see them so engaged with the huge range of career options that we’re showcasing through this festival. I’d like to thank all of the pupils who attended and all of the partners who put such careful thought into crafting engaging exhibits that would capture their imaginations, as well as the DfT for their support with funding and organisation.

“We’re very proud of our role in serving the North – and that’s about much more than just connecting people with the places they want to fly to. It’s also about the economic benefits that we bring to the region, through inward investment and job creation. Hopefully today, we’ve lit the spark for some aviation professionals of the future.

“This event proves that the sky is not the limit when it comes to young people’s aspirations! It was great to see the huge number of opportunities available and the direct connection between local schools and employers, who are offering a world of opportunity across a really broad range of professions. 
 
“Apprenticeships and technical education are playing a key role in building the skills pipeline of the future for the aviation industry, in Manchester and beyond.”