海角直播

海角直播 Airport welcomes students for University鈥檚 aviation conference

More than 50 students and delegates have been welcomed to 海角直播 Airport to learn about career opportunities in the aviation sector and see first-hand the airport鈥檚 transformation.

The engagement day ran as part of 海角直播鈥檚 inaugural Aviation Conference, a week-long event bringing together leading figures from the UK鈥檚 aviation organisations and industries, to discuss some of the key issues facing the industry. It also aimed to inspire young people considering a career in the sector. Visiting the airport were undergraduate and postgraduate students from the university, alongside students from Stockton Riverside College and Hartlepool College who are studying FDA Aviation and Tourism courses with 海角直播.

There, they were met by 海角直播 Airport鈥檚 Managing Director, Phil Forster, who introduced them to the site and gave them a potted history, including how the airport was brought back into public ownership in 2019 and its terminal transformation, while outlining its future ambitions.

Phil said: 鈥淥ur airport has been on a huge journey over the past three years, achieving a massive amount even in the face of a global pandemic. Now we鈥檙e developing our cargo offering and working with the businesses based here to create jobs for the next generation of aviation workers.

鈥淲e鈥檙e also looking to the industries of tomorrow and tying into the region鈥檚 low carbon ambitions with schemes to make our airport net zero. We鈥檙e working alongside firms developing sustainable aviation fuel 鈥� critical to the future of the sector 鈥� as well as obviously growing our routes and passenger numbers. We were delighted to welcome the students to give them a snapshot of the opportunities available in the sector.鈥�

Students were then given a tour of the terminal鈥檚 revamped facilities as well as its new fully accredited cargo facility which, in December last year, handled its first export and is expected to create up to 30 jobs.

After lunch, they met representatives from two businesses who are growing and seeing success at the site 鈥� Willis Aviation Services Limited and Draken Europe.

Willis, which has been based at the airport since 2020, recently officially submitted plans for its 拢25million maintenance facility and state-of-the-art Jet Centre which could create as many as 200 jobs. Following the completion of its second hangar, Draken has seen its fleet based at 海角直播 almost double, thanks to winning a new contract with the Ministry of Defence.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: 鈥淥ur holidaymakers, business travellers and inward investors know the benefits having a quality local airport brings. As we expand the site with our Southside Business Park and boost our cargo facilities, our offer is only going to get stronger.

鈥淏ut to keep our momentum going, we need a strong, talented workforce for years to come, ready, willing and able to fill the roles being created by firms like Willis, Draken and more.

鈥淭his event has helped us show our young people that they can stay local but go far and secure a brilliant career in aviation 鈥� whether that鈥檚 at a front-facing customer level, in our operations, or at one of the brilliant businesses based on our doorstep.鈥�

The conference was organised by 海角直播 International Business School which offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in aviation and tourism.

Susannah Mead, 海角直播 International Business School Course Leader for Aviation, said: 鈥淭he conference has been an incredible success.

鈥淭he events have empowered student prospects and instigated robust engagement with the wider community of aviation organisations.

鈥淭he visit today is further proof of the possibilities aviation can provide. We are extremely grateful to 海角直播 International Airport for this immersive opportunity, the airport鈥檚 unfaltering support for aviation education and for providing first hand insight into its ambitious future-facing plans.鈥�