Students from Inscape House School recently visited Aerozone at Manchester Airport to discover more about the wide range of careers available within the aviation industry.
The visit gave students the opportunity to learn about the different jobs that help keep an airport running, as well as getting hands-on experience of what it could be like to work in some of these roles.
From security and border control to pilots, air traffic control, fire services, policing and hospitality, students discovered that there are many different career paths available at an airport.
Exploring careers at the airport
During the visit, students took part in activities designed to give them an insight into different airport roles, including having the chance to experience what it might be like to work in security and as cabin crew.
The students also had the opportunity to speak about the careers that interested them most and share their own experiences of airports.
One student explained that their interest in aviation comes from their own family:
“My daddy’s a captain and I’ve been in the cockpit.”
For Jackson, becoming a pilot is a career that really excites him. When asked what job he would like to do at an airport, he said he would like to be a pilot for any airline.
Another student already had a particular airline in mind, saying:
“I’d like to work for British Airways. It seems calmer and they have more history, like the Concorde.”
James said that if he had to choose a job at the airport, he would be interested in working in security.
Huge career opportunities
The visit also highlighted just how many different opportunities there are within the airport industry.
Project Manager Michelle spoke to the students about the variety of roles available at Manchester Airport:
“What’s great about being at the airport is that there’s so many different things and jobs you can do. You can do air traffic control, security, police, fire service, pilots, border control, restaurants etc. The career opportunities are absolutely huge. It’s a great place to work, it’s really exciting.”
Michelle also spoke about some of the areas she has already had the opportunity to experience, including security and Border Force.
When a student asked her which job she would most like to try that she hasn’t had the chance to do yet, she said:
“I’ve spent time with security and I’ve spent some time on Border Force. The bit that excites me and I haven’t had chance to get out there yet is on the airfield. I’d really like to do that. The planes look huge, you get to see the big A380s.”
Inspiring future careers
The visit gave students the chance to explore different possibilities and think about the types of careers they might like to pursue in the future.
Some staff members even got involved in the conversation, with several saying that they would have chosen to work as cabin crew if they had the opportunity.
For the students, the trip was an opportunity to see behind the scenes at an airport, try out different roles and discover that there are far more career opportunities in aviation than they might have previously realised.
Visits like this can help students connect what they learn at school with the world of work, while giving them the chance to explore their interests and think about what their own future career could look like!
To find out more about Aerozone and the educational opportunities available at Manchester Airport, visit the Manchester Airport education website.