Farnborough Airport (EGLF) is seeking to boost training options for new recruits by partnering with the local Farnborough College of Technology to launch an enhanced Certificate in Airport Operations course. The first of the six-week courses will start on November 4 and include classroom instruction and opportunities for students to gain experience working at the UK business aviation gateway.
The organizations are offering 20 places on each course for recruits aged 21 and over, representing an increase of eight places from an earlier intake for the course. Instruction at the college will be provided on two weekday evenings, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that it is suitable for students currently in other employment or training.
One of the sessions will focus on air traffic control with an expert presentation by air traffic management and airport services group NATS. Other modules will include customer services, for which there will be an optional assessment as part of the wide UK City & Guilds qualification that can be applicable to other industries. Students can sign up for an optional engineering bootcamp at the end of the course.
Students will spend two immersive “Airport Insights” days at the site. During this time, they will shadow experienced airport staff to gain practical experience of various roles.
“The feedback from our initial course cohort was outstanding, with some having already secured roles within the industry,” said Farnborough Airport’s CEO, Simon Geere. “Following this success, we are proud to launch the enhanced Farnborough Airport Certificate in Airport Operations, ensuring even more local people can benefit from the exciting career opportunities.”
According to the privately-owned airport, the training initiative supports the local Rushmoor Borough Council’s Delivery Plan for Skills, Economy, and Business. The airport has been engaged in a long-running process to seek approval to increase the limit on annual aircraft movements.
Applications for the new course are now open via the college website. “We are very pleased to again be working closely with Farnborough Airport on this exciting and very popular course,” said Virginia Barrett, principal CEO at Farnborough College of Technology. “Aviation is such a diverse sector—integral to our community—and this course will give local people the chance to develop knowledge, skills, and connections that could shape the next step in their career journey.”