Manchester Airport to develop on-site education centre

Manchester Airport has announced plans to develop a new education centre on-site, offering schoolchildren the chance to discover more about their local airport, which is intended to launch in 2020.

The education centre, named AeroZone, is part of the airport’s £1 billion transformation project, and is an initiative of Manchester Airports Group’s ‘MAG Connect’ programme that aims to connect local communities with jobs within the aviation industry – children will learn about the range of work opportunities that aviation offers.

CEO of Manchester Airport, Andrew Cowan, said: “Manchester Airport has a proud track record of giving back to the communities we serve. As we deliver the biggest investment in our 81-year history, through our £1 billion transformation project, it is only right that this also marks the start of an exciting new era for our CSR programme. AeroZone will form the centre piece of that and I am sure it will prove to be an engaging and inspirational education space for students of all ages. We are committed to bridging the gap between education and the world of work and I am grateful to all the partners we are working with on this exciting project.”

The centre will welcome more than 5,000 pupils annually, from the ages of four to 18, focusing on a variety of topics and subjects relating to aviation and the airport itself. The sessions will aim to inspire young people, whilst also giving them practical advice about how they can gain access to employment opportunities and prepare for the world outside of education. AeroZone is not the first educational initiative from Manchester Airport – their extensive education outreach programme benefitted over 15,000 school children in 2018, including offering work experience, internships, STEM masterclasses, in-school sessions and classroom materials.

Neil Robinson, CSR Director at Manchester Airports Group (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, which I am sure will prove popular with students and teachers from schools across the region. By engaging with children in their formative years not only can we boost and build their confidence, we can also highlight a range of roles and careers available on their doorstep.”

The centre will be staffed by educational professionals, providing children with relevant teaching to help them in their studies and, for older children, tailored career inspiration in order to encourage them as they consider their further education choices. The AeroZone will be available to use outside of school hours and during school holidays.