MAG Careers Festival roadshow inspires more than 1,500 young people about jobs in aviation
· Final of three events was held yesterday at East Midlands Airport, with more than 500 attendees
· The Festivals have been supported by the Department for Transport and CAA’s Reach for the Sky Fund
Thousands of young people have been inspired to explore careers in aviation as Manchester Airports Group (MAG) completed its UK-wide Careers Festival roadshow at East Midlands Airport.
The event marked the third and final event of the programme, following successful events at London Stansted and Manchester Airports earlier this year. Collectively, the three Festivals attracted more than 1500 young people aged 14-19, designed to showcase the wide range of career opportunities available across the aviation sector.
The Careers Festival series has been funded through the Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority’s ‘Reach for the Sky’ initiative, which aims to inspire future aviation talent and improve awareness of the sector among young people.
MAG is the UK’s largest airports group, which owns and operated Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports. Through its nationwide reach, MAG is uniquely positioned to provide young people across the country with access to careers in aviation and the chance to meet potential future employers face-to-face.
Yesterday’s event welcomed more than 500 students from schools and colleges across the East Midlands. The young people had the opportunity to engage directly with airport employers, take part in hands-on activities, and hear from industry professionals about their career journeys.
Students explored the diverse range of roles available across the airport environment – from engineering and air traffic control to security, customer service, logistics and hospitality – reflecting the breadth of careers that keep a modern airport running.
More than 15 employers and partners from across the airport site and wider aviation industry took part, delivering interactive demonstrations including flight simulators, technology showcases and practical challenges designed to bring aviation careers to life.
One of the speakers at the event was Lauren Turner, East Midlands Airport’s Operations Director who was recently appointed by the Department for Transport as an Aviation Ambassador – a role which aims to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.
Ken O’Toole, MAG CEO said:
“Our Careers Festival programme has been all about inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals and opening young people’s eyes to the breadth of opportunities they can explore in our sector.
“As a major employer across the three regions we serve we have a responsibility to create meaningful experiences that help build a strong pipeline of future talent. That is why it was so important to host these events to each our airports to ensure that young people across the country could feel the same positive impact they deliver.
“I am proud that through this initiative we have reached thousands of young people, and I am optimistic about the breadth of talent we will see entering careers in aviation as a result.”
Aviation, Decarbonisation, and Maritime Minister Keir Mather said:
“We’re showing young people routes into aviation by investing £85,000 to support MAG careers fairs and festivals, including in the East Midlands – breaking down barriers to opportunity, highlighting skilled opportunities that deliver growth, and encouraging the next generation to aim for the sky.”
“The UK has a proud history in aviation, and we’re propelling this into the future by inspiring young people from all backgrounds to see the sector as a place where they can build their careers.”
Lauren Turner, Operations Director at East Midlands Airport said: “This is the first time we have staged an Aviation Careers Festival, and it fits perfectly with my new role as Aviation Ambassador to help showcase opportunities for diverse and disadvantaged communities by shining a light on the wide range of aviation jobs that are available.
“The festival has been designed as an immersive, high impact event showcasing careers in action. Real professionals, real equipment and real experiences, enabling students to connect authentically with a diverse range of career pathways.
“We’re proud to host such an inspiring event for local young people. As one of the largest single-site employers in the East Midlands, the airport offers a huge range of exciting career paths, and this festival gives students the chance to experience that first-hand.”
The Careers Festival series forms part of MAG’s wider education and skills programme, helping to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the aviation sector by nurturing the next generation of talent.