Manchester airport has launched a programme aimed at educating and inspiring young people to join the aviation sector.
MAG Connect will be replicated across the other airports owned by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which includes Stansted and East Midlands airports.
Over the next 12 months, the three airports plan to support the education of 12,000 young people, introduce a decarbonisation curriculum called Jet Zero, provide free pre-employment training programmes aimed at jobseekers and free upskilling training programmes for existing workforces, organise on-site job fairs, launch writing competitions for Key Stage 2 and 3 students, and organise a series of events encouraging more women to take up STEM roles.
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The programme’s longer term goal is to support 60,000 young people and at least 7,500 jobseekers by 2025.
MAG Connect supports the government’s £1.5 million Generation Aviation initiative which aims to boost recruitment for the sector.
Neil Robinson, corporate, social and responsibility director at MAG (pictured), said: “MAG Connect is a clear demonstration of our commitment to inspiring the next generation of aviation talent.
“By illustrating the breadth of opportunities to young people and by supporting and upskilling jobseekers into exciting career paths, the aviation sector stands to benefit from a new cohort of passionate professionals for the future.
“MAG Connect will play a crucial role in supporting the government’s Generation Aviation scheme and we will continue to work closely with ministers to maximise that support.”