<p>Many training programmes for pilots and maintenance personnel focus on careers in commercial aviation, be it with major carriers, regional airlines, cargo specialists or low-cost carriers. Given the size of the industry, it is hardly surprising.</p>
<p><img alt="Young engineer at BBGA " src="/getasset/b3c8738f-1483-470f-968a-260ab7f381a8/" /></p>
<p>There are, however, other channels that budding aviators and technical staff can follow and these have been brought to the fore in the UK recently thanks to a newly-released manifesto from the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA). “A successful pathway to a world of future aviation opportunities lies in a revitalisation of apprenticeships,” the Association contends.</p>
<p>As it launched a campaign to encourage young people to consider STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) topics as a career, BBGA called on the UK government and the private sector to work together and create initiatives such as that pioneered by Stansted Airport College. BBGA sees the college as a successful example of what can be achieved by such collaboration as it has just enrolled 429 full-time trainees and 52 apprentices in its second year.</p>
<p>The Association plans to work with the UK CAA to develop its approach and steer a path toward innovative training to equip aviation’s workforce with skills on the ground, as well as in the air. It says its first priority is to align with the UK government’s “Aviation Strategy 2050” to assess what the UK workforce needs over the next 30 years. A similar approach is being taken by the <a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/pathways-and-partnerships-producing-skilled-professionals/"><u>Aviation Skills Partnership</u></a>.</p>
<p>BBGA’s goal is to create apprenticeships in a range of aviation services. It adds that it is also seeking “development of all streams including flight operations, ground operations and airworthiness, mindful that business aviation <em>per se</em> does not feature in any syllabuses”.</p>
<p>A worldwide pilot shortage of commercial pilots is acknowledged, but BBGA believes there are other roles in other aviation services – such as aircraft maintenance, ATC, ground and flight operations – which are also facing shortages. The Association is therefore looking to help the industry meet those challenges.</p>
<p>Collaboration also extends beyond the UK as the BBGA is working with the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) under the latter’s Expanding Horizons initiative, which aims in part to attract and engage the next generation of business aviation professionals. For its part, BBGA is advocating aviation centres of excellence around the UK which would offer City and Guilds Level 2, 3, 4 and 5 on aviation services pathways “where trainees would receive high quality training inhouse with assured work placements when ready”.</p>
<p>As noted, the BBGA believes that Stansted Airport College, which opened in September 2018 in a joint venture with Harlow College, is a prime case study of what can be achieved. It is “the first purpose built further education college at a major UK airport,” the Association notes, adding that a further 138 students are expected to graduate in June 2020 after 40 graduated in 2019.</p>
<p>Stansted Airport College’s curriculum offers pre-apprentice, apprenticeship and full-time programmes, plus work-transition courses in a range of subjects including aircraft engineering, maintenance, aviation operations, cabin crew, hospitality and event management. According to the BBGA, “After a successful first year, with an average pass rate of 97%, college graduates have secured permanent jobs with apprenticeships at FlightWorx, Manchester Airport Group, Jet2, Ryanair, Kearsley Airways, GT Engines, Harrods Aviation, British Airways and AIM Composites.”</p>
<p><img alt="Stansted Airport college Go On Girl" src="/getasset/95a1e196-57b7-49fc-b093-7ef78fb5c0c3/" /></p>
<p>Moreover, the College is promoting diversity in its students via its ‘Go on Girl’ campaign. It has successfully recruited 12 females onto its latest engineering programmes, equating to 8% engineering trainees, a 5% increase on the previous year. Also, 60% of trainees on its Aviation Operations programme are female.</p>
<p><img alt="Young engineer at BBGA " src="/getasset/b3c8738f-1483-470f-968a-260ab7f381a8/" /></p>
<p>There are, however, other channels that budding aviators and technical staff can follow and these have been brought to the fore in the UK recently thanks to a newly-released manifesto from the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA). “A successful pathway to a world of future aviation opportunities lies in a revitalisation of apprenticeships,” the Association contends.</p>
<p>As it launched a campaign to encourage young people to consider STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) topics as a career, BBGA called on the UK government and the private sector to work together and create initiatives such as that pioneered by Stansted Airport College. BBGA sees the college as a successful example of what can be achieved by such collaboration as it has just enrolled 429 full-time trainees and 52 apprentices in its second year.</p>
<p>The Association plans to work with the UK CAA to develop its approach and steer a path toward innovative training to equip aviation’s workforce with skills on the ground, as well as in the air. It says its first priority is to align with the UK government’s “Aviation Strategy 2050” to assess what the UK workforce needs over the next 30 years. A similar approach is being taken by the <a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/pathways-and-partnerships-producing-skilled-professionals/"><u>Aviation Skills Partnership</u></a>.</p>
<p>BBGA’s goal is to create apprenticeships in a range of aviation services. It adds that it is also seeking “development of all streams including flight operations, ground operations and airworthiness, mindful that business aviation <em>per se</em> does not feature in any syllabuses”.</p>
<p>A worldwide pilot shortage of commercial pilots is acknowledged, but BBGA believes there are other roles in other aviation services – such as aircraft maintenance, ATC, ground and flight operations – which are also facing shortages. The Association is therefore looking to help the industry meet those challenges.</p>
<p>Collaboration also extends beyond the UK as the BBGA is working with the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) under the latter’s Expanding Horizons initiative, which aims in part to attract and engage the next generation of business aviation professionals. For its part, BBGA is advocating aviation centres of excellence around the UK which would offer City and Guilds Level 2, 3, 4 and 5 on aviation services pathways “where trainees would receive high quality training inhouse with assured work placements when ready”.</p>
<p>As noted, the BBGA believes that Stansted Airport College, which opened in September 2018 in a joint venture with Harlow College, is a prime case study of what can be achieved. It is “the first purpose built further education college at a major UK airport,” the Association notes, adding that a further 138 students are expected to graduate in June 2020 after 40 graduated in 2019.</p>
<p>Stansted Airport College’s curriculum offers pre-apprentice, apprenticeship and full-time programmes, plus work-transition courses in a range of subjects including aircraft engineering, maintenance, aviation operations, cabin crew, hospitality and event management. According to the BBGA, “After a successful first year, with an average pass rate of 97%, college graduates have secured permanent jobs with apprenticeships at FlightWorx, Manchester Airport Group, Jet2, Ryanair, Kearsley Airways, GT Engines, Harrods Aviation, British Airways and AIM Composites.”</p>
<p><img alt="Stansted Airport college Go On Girl" src="/getasset/95a1e196-57b7-49fc-b093-7ef78fb5c0c3/" /></p>
<p>Moreover, the College is promoting diversity in its students via its ‘Go on Girl’ campaign. It has successfully recruited 12 females onto its latest engineering programmes, equating to 8% engineering trainees, a 5% increase on the previous year. Also, 60% of trainees on its Aviation Operations programme are female.</p>