Local, national and international aspiring
aviation students and people seeking a new career in aviation can now realise
their dream after the Official Opening this week of the International Aviation
Academy-Norwich at Norwich Airport.
The building was officially opened by Group
Captain Carol Vorderman, Air Cadet Honorary Ambassador and Air Commodore Dawn
McAfferty, Commandant of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, at a ceremony at the
Academy. Sir Peter Rigby, Chairman of Rigby Group plc and owners of Norwich
Airport, also announced their support for the building’s Board Room and Seminar
Room.
The plans, unveiled in September 2013, were to
create an Aviation Academy at the Airport to provide a centre of excellence for
education and skills training in aviation, delivered in partnership with the
region’s employers, education groups and local authorities. Today, this new
state of the art Aviation Academy, part of the airport’s ambitious expansion
plans, is already training the next generation of aviation engineers with more
areas of aviation to follow.
The academy is a Joint Enterprise between
Norse Group and Aviation Skills Partnership. It is supported by a core group of
founding partners, including Norfolk County Council, New Anglia Local Enterprise
Partnership, Norwich City Council, KLM UK Engineering, Norwich Airport, KLM UK
Engineering, City College Norwich, University of East Anglia, and Broadland
District Council. It is based at the airport site, and is equipped to provide
training to 400-500 students at any given time.
The Academy creates a world-first ‘real world’
learning environment that includes full size aircraft and raises the standards
of learning using innovative teaching techniques. It focuses on offering a broad
education and skills training in aviation that will attract both local and
international students. Key skills and training programmes start from age 16
initially include Aviation Engineering, Cabin Crew and Airport Operations with
other areas planned. The Engineering delivery is entirely practice-based and
incorporates an innovative University of East Anglia/City College Norwich
BSc(Hons) work-based degree/degree apprenticeship developed by Aviation Skills
Partnership delivered with KLM UK Engineering. The cabin crew and airport
training programmes are industry designed to create work-ready people for local,
national and international roles.
Aviation Skills Partnership’s (ASP) Chairman &
Chief Executive Simon Witts
said: “We are delighted to have led this ground-breaking initiative. My aim in
setting up ASP was to transform the approach to training across our six areas of
aviation and this new Academy is our first, providing access to
industry-designed skills programmes in full partnership with Universities, FE
Colleges, Schools, Private Training Providers and Awarding Organisations. I
congratulate Norwich and the region on their vision in supporting this project
and I am delighted to see the interest from people enrolling onto the courses.”
Norse Group Managing Director,
Mike Britch,
said: “The Norse Group is proud to have been pivotal in the realisation of this
ambitious project, which is the first of its kind in the UK. Whilst the state-ofthe-
art Academy building is an icon in its own right, the heart of the project has
always been to create career opportunities in the aviation industry for
generations of students not only from the eastern region but further afield.
“It is fantastic to see the first generation
of pupils already benefiting from and enjoying this currently unique educational
facility and I look forward to seeing student numbers grow. I have no doubt that
this will be an extremely popular destination for young people seeking a career
in an interesting and expanding industry.”
Sir Peter Rigby,
CEO and Chairman of Rigby Group, which owns Norwich Airport, said: “As a
founding partner in the new Academy we are delighted to support this world-class
facility by sponsoring the training room and board room. Through our Regional &
City Airports division, aviation is an important part of our business and skills
are vital to the future. The Academy will cement Norwich Airport’s growing
international reputation for aviation excellence, and create opportunities for
our young people to learn the skills the industry needs to sustain growth.” |