UK’s largest airports group joins forces with Fantasy Wings to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) today announced its partnership with Fantasy Wings – a leading UK organisation dedicated to improving diversity in the aviation sector.

MAG, which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports will offer work experience placements to young people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and young women aged between 13 and 25 who are interesting in pursuing a dynamic career in aviation.

The partnership will sponsor 25 young people to join the year-long Fantasy Wings programme, which is designed to ensure young people entering the aviation work force have the tools they need to succeed and offered skills development and career mentorship by industry leaders.

MAG will be in attendance at Fantasy Wings Conferences in Manchester, Birmingham and London, with speakers from across the organisation talking to attendees about airports’ operations, careers and the new partnership.

In addition to this MAG will sponsor a number of work experience placements at one of the Group’s three airports, where they will enjoy behind the scenes access to see first-hand how an international airport operates.

MAG Chief People Officer, Emma Crossland said: “I am proud to announce our partnership with Fantasy Wings today, which will provide a fantastic opportunity for young people to be immersed into the world of aviation and be inspired about their future careers.

“MAG is committed to ensuring that our workforce is diverse and represents the society we live in, and that’s why initiatives like Fantasy Wings are so important. I am pleased that this new partnership will work alongside the other programmes of work within MAG that aim to break down barriers and increase representation.

“We have a long history of showcasing the dynamic careers aviation has to offer, and I am excited to add this partnership to that legacy. I look forward to welcoming the first cohort of young people to our airports and to seeing how their careers can take off.”

Jackson Smith, CEO of Fantasy Wings said: "I am proud to announce our partnership between  Manchester Airports Group and Fantasy Wings. This partnership will provide our young participants with a unique look at the airport environment from the perspective  of the UK’s largest airport  operator.

“Our young people will get to hear from professionals who work in the airport environment and get the opportunity to take part in tailored work experience. Not only will this allow their career decisions to be more informed but will allow them to explore aviation from another exciting perspective. I look forward to seeing how our partnership progresses for the benefit of both of our organisations.”

The launch of the partnership is part of MAG’s wider commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse workforce for the future and is one initiative being delivered against the Group’s new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy published last year. As well as working with Fantasy Wings, MAG has set a number of ambitions for the organisation to ensure that diversity of talent flowsthrough the business. This includes 50% representation of female colleagues in our leadership population by 2033, 12% of ethnic minority representation by 2026 and 12% representation of colleagues under 25 by 2025.

A core pillar of MAG’s sustainability strategy is providing ‘Opportunity for All’ and it has demonstrated its commitment to education and skills for over a decade. The Group currently operates a range of industry leading facilities to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.

At its on-site AeroZones, young people from the age of three are shown the breadth of opportunities available across the sector, seeking to break down stereotypes through interactive activities and talks from colleagues across the organisation. Stansted Airport college is the UK’s only dedicated aviation further education facility. First opened in 2018, it offers vocational courses from aeronautical engineering to customer service training for 500 students each year, with an average of 98% of college graduates securing employment on the airport site.

Each of MAG’s airports also hold long standing partnerships with local colleges, offering free courses and upskilling opportunities for jobs seekers in their catchment areas.