Enhanced aviation programme to help college students into airport careers

Trafford & Stockport College Group (TSCG) and Manchester Airports Group (MAG) have come together to enhance Trafford College’s Aviation Operations programme, introducing more industry engagement, employer-led activities and hands-on work experience opportunities at Manchester Airport.

The two organisations are strengthening their existing partnership to help inspire and prepare the next generation of aviation talent, creating more tailored opportunities for learners and supporting the future workforce needs of the aviation sector.

The enhanced MAG-endorsed Aviation Operations programme was showcased at a special event at Trafford & Stockport College Group yesterday, attended by industry leaders, partners, staff and students. Guests were given an exclusive look at the college’s new-look Aviation Department.

How industry insights are brought into the classroom to enhance the learning experience

The Aviation Operations programme gives learners a behind-the-scenes look at airport operations, alongside work placements and opportunities to explore careers in the industry. Through closer collaboration with MAG, the programme has been further developed to bring industry insight directly into the classroom, ensuring learners gain the skills, knowledge and experiences most relevant to today’s aviation sector.

Delivered through the two organisations’, Manchester Airport Skills Hub partnership, the programme is part of the newly launched Airport Futures initiative, helping learners explore the many career opportunities available at Manchester Airport and beyond.

The Skills Hub partnership aims to engage with at least 150 young people during the 2026/27 academic year across aviation, engineering, digital, hospitality and other curriculum areas.

Building a future talent pipeline for the aviation sector

More generally, the programme forms part of the Manchester Airport Skills Hub’s ambition to build a strong future talent pipeline for the aviation industry. By working together to shape and enhance the curriculum, TSCG, MAG and other airport employers are ensuring learners benefit from industry expertise, meaningful employer engagement, workplace experiences and clear pathways into careers across the airport and wider aviation sector.

Available from Level 1 to Level 3, the programme has been enhanced through employer collaboration to give learners the experience and skills they need to pursue careers in operations at the airport, air traffic control, cargo and dispatch and management.

Students enrolled on the programme will benefit from a wide range of employer-led opportunities including the chance to hear from guest speakers working across the aviation industry, along with mock interviews, support into employment, work experience opportunities, live employer challenges and airside tours.

Successful completion of the programme can lead to employment, apprenticeships, higher education and various exciting careers within Manchester Airport and the wider aviation industry.

How the programme is bringing airport careers to life for learners

Among the guest speakers at last Thursday’s launch event for this year’s programme was Sam McCarthy, a graduate from a previous version of the course who has now secured a full-time role at the airport as an Airfield Planning Assistance, helping devise and manage schedules for crucial airfield maintenance in between scheduled flight movements.

Sam said: “Coming here today and seeing how much is now involved with this partnership is amazing. It’s incredible to see how this programme has developed and how it is bringing airport careers to life for learners. The range of guest speakers they’re going to hear from, the chance to explore the airport, to gain industry placements and to go on airside tours, will give these young people so many opportunities and will genuinely open doors for them.

“When I started out on this journey, I didn’t really know what my end goal was or what I wanted to do when I finished it and a big part of the appeal of this course is that it gives you the opportunity to sample so many different parts of the airport operation and work out what interests you. It was a real eye-opener for me and I know it will be for this year’s students, too.”

Dozens of first-year and second-year students enrolled on the course were also at the launch event. One f them, Amir Kane from Ancoats, is currently taking a Level 1 Aviation Operations course and is due to start the Level 3 programme next year.

Amir said: “For me, the aviation syllabus I’m being taught is the most exciting thing. When you go through the education system you’re taught about maths and science in very general terms but here I get to learn about something I’m actually passionate about. I’ve always been fascinated by planes and aviation. When I was a child my dad would drive me down to the Airport Pub to watch the planes coming and going. For MAG to go into partnership with Trafford College and create this course makes me feel I can see a pathway to the kind of career that I want and that is incredibly exciting.”

Creating clearer pathways into skilled employment

Tracey Wood, Chief Commercial Officer at TSCG, said: “At Trafford & Stockport College Group, we are passionate about creating impactful opportunities that help our learners succeed and develop the future talent our employers need. This enhanced Aviation Operations programme, delivered in partnership with Manchester Airports Group, is an exciting next step in the growth of the Manchester Airport Skills Hub, building on the strong foundations already established through our collaboration.

Photo: MAG

“By working closely with industry, we are creating relevant programmes that are designed with employers, for employers — connecting learners with industry expertise, hands-on experience and clear pathways into employment. It is about making sure our curriculum keeps pace with the needs of the sector, while giving our students the skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive and helping employers develop the workforce they need for the future.”

The launch of the new programme and MAG-branded department coincided with the publication of the airport group’s annual Sustainability Report. MAG, which also owns and operates East Midlands and London Stansted airports, has reaffirmed itself as an industry leader in its support of skills and employment initiatives – and the report reveals it has supported more than 6,000 young people with their education across FY26.

Developing a sustainability strategy for a range of positive impacts

Last year’s launch of the Skills Hub, in partnership with TSCG, is part of a five-year sustainability strategy that aims to create an industry-led talent pipeline that supports the future of aviation in the North. The strategy also aims to reach school-aged children, with more than 12,000 local school pupils to be welcomed to the airport’s on-site AeroZone education centre in the five-year reporting period.

In addition to education and skills, the Sustainability Report also shows that Manchester Airport is excelling in areas like environmental sustainability – with 100% of its waste diverted from landfill for the first time and 25% reused or recycled, along with a 2.5% year-on-year reduction in aircraft emissions – in addition to facilitating more than £30 million of contracts for local small and medium-sized businesses through its Meet the Buyers events and donating more than £120,000 to good causes through its Community Trust Fund.

MAG CEO, Ken O’Toole, said: “Aviation offers a broad range of careers but it is important that young people can see those opportunities from an early age and develop the skills and experience needed to access them. This programme is a great example of how we’re working with education partners to create clear pathways into employment. As a major employer across the North, Midlands and South, MAG has a significant role to play in providing skills and employment opportunities that allow surrounding communities to thrive.

“The progress set out in our annual Sustainability Report demonstrates the positive impact our approach is having on real people across the country, alongside developments to achieve our decarbonisation target of net zero carbon operations by 2038 and in our approach to targeted and effective community engagement.

“Creating a pipeline of future talent for our industry is vital to its future success, and MAG is playing a significant role – working together with Government, regulators and industry partners – to deliver that.”

To find out more about the Level 3 Extended Diploma in Aviation Operations, visit https://trafford.tscg.ac.uk/our-courses.