Training academy a 'major investment' in aerospace

A new training facility will teach young people advanced aerospace and engineering skills thanks to a partnership between a sixth form college and a major aeroplane manufacturer.

Under the agreement between Airbus and Weston College Group, a building at Airbus' site on the old Filton Airfield, near Bristol, will be turned into the Aerospace Skills Academy.

It is due to open in September, in time for the start of the next academic year.

Simon Galpin, head of Airbus' Filton site, said the facility "represents a major investment in the future of UK aerospace and advanced engineering".

He added: "We are creating a pipeline of highly skilled talent that supports national capability, regional growth, and the long-term competitiveness of our industry."

According to Weston College Group, the academy will operate as "a flagship centre for technical education and workforce development".

It comes as a response to the UK's Industrial Strategy and Defence Industrial Strategy, which identified skills development as "vital" to sustaining the UK's global competitiveness in aerospace and engineering.

Its curriculum is being co-designed with Airbus and other industry partners, including Babcock International Group, GKN Aerospace, MBDA, NCC and Rolls-Royce, which collectively make up a £2.7bn aerospace cluster in the South West.

Based in Weston-super-Mare, Weston College offers higher education and vocational courses to young people and adults.

Principal and chief executive Pat Jones said: "Signing this lease with Airbus is a transformational step in delivering world-class higher technical education that directly supports national and regional economic priorities."

Airbus is the UK's largest civil aerospace company, with Filton boasting the largest concentration of aerospace engineers in Northern Europe.

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