MAG to open brand new ‘Aerozone’ at Manchester Airport
- New on-site education centre will give local schoolchildren of all ages opportunities to learn more about their local airport and the job opportunities available in aviation
- Announcement, made in MAG’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility report, is part of the “MAG Connect” programme, which aims to connect local communities with jobs at airports
- MAG already runs successful Aerozones at London Stansted and East Midlands Airports
MAG is to open an Aerozone at Manchester Airport for the first time, as part of an initiative which connects its airports with their local communities. Aerozones are on-site facilities, run by MAG, offering local children aged 4 to 18 the opportunity to find out more about how an airport works, and the careers opportunities on offer. Last year they welcomed 6,500 children across the two existing airport sites.
The new Aerozone at Manchester, which will be situated at the heart of the airport, above The Station, is part of the MAG airport group’s “MAG Connect” initiative. The initiative also includes on- site Further Education colleges, along with partnerships with job centres and skills academies, which together aim to equip communities with the skills to take key jobs at airports.
MAG’s airports are drivers of national and regional economic growth and support thousands of jobs. The company’s latest Corporate Social Responsibility Report, in which the Manchester Aerozone was announced, also reveals that the Group’s three airports contributed a combined £8.2bn to the UK economy in the last financial year, up 5.8% year on year.
We are more determined than ever to ensure that the benefits of MAG’s success are shared and I am proud of the way that we play our part in providing ‘opportunities for all,’ particularly where there are areas of inequality and deprivation around our airports.
The increase has been driven by increased passenger traffic, leading to more jobs at the airports and in their supply chains. Compared with the year before, MAG’s three airports supported 4,200 more jobs last year.
Neil Robinson, CSR Director at MAG, said: “As we look to the year ahead, we are more determined than ever to ensure that the benefits of MAG’s success are shared and I am proud of the way that we play our part in providing ‘opportunities for all,’ particularly where there are areas of inequality and deprivation around our airports. That is why we are extending our successful Aerozone concept to Manchester”
“This year’s CSR report also acknowledges the increasing focus that everyone in our industry has on the need to protect the environment. More than ever, we know that to be successful, our growth must be sustainable, and we must ensure that we continue to operate within environmental limits and society’s resources.
“At MAG, we are collaborating with partners, such as Sustainable Aviation, to develop better technology and low-carbon alternatives. All of our airport operations are all carbon neutral, and we will continue to use our influence and programmes to promote decarbonisation across the industry. By working together, we are confident that we can build a thriving aviation industry that operates within environmental limits.”
MAG’s Aerozones are staffed by educational professionals, and give children relevant education to help them in their studies and also, for older children, give tailored careers inspiration to encourage them to think about careers on offer at their local airport as they consider their further education choices.