Newcastle Aviation Students Flying Straight to Employment

Newcastle College University Centre (NCUC) is celebrating an outstanding employment rate among this year’s graduates from its Aviation Academy. More than half of the students who graduated this month have already gained employment, with 12 securing roles at British Airways (BA).

Located next to Newcastle International Airport's runway, the Academy is the only one of its kind in the region. This 12,000m2 facility offers courses and hands-on training for aeronautical engineering, aviation operations, and cabin crew. The environment features a real aircraft hangar, providing students with an immersive learning experience.

The Academy features a Premier 1 Jet, made possible by a £2 million investment into STEM facilities at NCUC last year.

Jim King, Curriculum Leader of Aviation Engineering at Newcastle College, attributes the students' success to this hands-on experience and first-class facilities. He said: "We have a unique set-up here at the Aviation Academy. The big airlines and aircraft engineering companies like our students because they are truly industry-ready; they're not overawed when they walk into a large aircraft hangar on their first day, because they're used to it. They've been spending time in a similar environment, working on and around real aircraft, every week since their first year on the course."

The Aviation Academy has partnered with the Shorterm Group, resulting in strong relationships with leading aviation companies such as British Airways (BA). Graduating students can now be evaluated for potential interviews for job opportunities with BA, and this year, 12 students have been selected to start their careers as Junior Mechanics at Glasgow Airport.

Aviation student Mark Underwood, who has secured a role said: "I think part of the reason companies such as BA are interested in us is because while we're doing our degree modules, we also complete some of the CAA modules towards our B1 Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's license, which you have to complete to be able to work as an aircraft mechanic."

"Newcastle College has a long history of working in partnership with industry to develop the workforce of the future and our Aviation Academy is a fantastic example of this,” said Scott Bullock, Principal of Newcastle College. “I'm incredibly proud to see that so many of this year's aeronautical engineers have already secured employment in the industry and I have no doubt they are ready to step into those roles and go on to make their mark in aviation."