London Biggin Hill Airport Welcomes NextGen Employees

Fifteen students from local schools and colleges took part in the eighth Futures Week event held by London Biggin Hill Airport to promote careers in business aviation. From October 20 to 24, the participants—age 15 to 18—spent time getting a taste for skills such as engineering and aircraft maintenance, air traffic control, operations, and customer service.

Since the program was launched in 2022, Futures Week has helped more than 115 students explore options for working in the industry. Several of those who participated have ended up working for companies such as Bombardier and Castle Air Aviation Group, which both have operations at Biggin Hill, as well as British Airways and the Royal Navy.

The event is run twice a year, and the next session will be held in February, with applications set to open at the end of November. Participants join practical workshops and tours of some of the more than 70 businesses at the airport, and receive mentoring support from employees. Privately-owned Biggin Hill also runs an apprenticeship program called Early Careers and invests in STEM educational outreach in its local community.

“As a leading center for aviation technology and innovation, we’re passionate about inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals, nurturing the skills and ambition that will support the industry for years to come,” said Hannah Gray, the airport’s STEM ambassador.