London Stansted has set an ambition to support at least 25,000 young people through its education and skills programmes by 2030, as the airport continues to invest in the next generation of talent.
Ahead of World Youth Skills Day on 15 July, the airport is highlighting the work taking place across its education and careers programmes, including Aerozone and Stansted Airport College, which help thousands of young people each year build skills, gain experience and explore future career opportunities.
These programmes support the Government’s ambition to reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) by creating pathways into learning and work.
More than 12,000 people work across the Stansted airport campus, which is home to over 200 companies. As the airport continues to grow, developing a strong pipeline of future talent remains a key priority.
Marcella M’Rabety, Head of Social Sustainability at MAG, said:
“For many young people, a visit to Aerozone is the moment aviation becomes real. By giving them access to experiences, opportunities and role models, we’re helping them build confidence, develop skills and discover the wide range of careers available at the airport. Supporting young people is not only the right thing to do, it also helps create opportunities in local communities and build the skilled workforce our airport will need in the future.
“We want to create an even more connected education and skills network that brings together schools, colleges, employers and the airport. Our ambition is to support at least 25,000 young people by 2030, helping even more people gain the skills, experience and confidence to access rewarding careers in aviation and beyond.”
Based at the airport and run in partnership with Harlow College, Stansted Airport College is the UK’s only on-site aviation college. It currently supports around 600 learners and apprentices, with 98% of graduates progressing into employment or further study last year.
The airport also plans to expand the college’s capacity to more than 1,000 learners as part of its long-term ambition to create more opportunities for local people and help meet future workforce needs.
World Youth Skills Day celebrates the importance of equipping young people with the skills they need for employment, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.
To mark the occasion, London Stansted has published an in-depth interview with Marcella M’Rabety exploring how the airport works with schools, colleges and employers to inspire the next generation and create pathways into future careers.
