Manchester Airport’s apprenticeships investment hits £3m mark as hub celebrates National Apprenticeship Week

Manchester Airport has invested £3m in its apprenticeship programme since it started in 2017.

The UK’s global gateway in the North reached the milestone as it marks National Apprenticeship Week – a celebration that brings together businesses and apprentices to celebrate the impact of the programme.

More than 440 apprentices have joined the airport since it adopted its current scheme in 2017 and more than 100 apprentices are currently enrolled, in fields as varied as engineering, aviation operations, firefighting and data analytics.

The programme is delivered in partnership with a number of universities and further education institutions, which provide teaching components on the 23 Apprenticeship Standards currently offered at the airport.

The content and length of the courses varies, with some offering qualifications within as little as 12 months and others requiring five years of work and study, but all of the airport’s apprenticeships form a mix of theoretical learning in an education setting and hands-on experience in a dynamic work environment at Manchester Airport.

“Real-world experiences, practical guidance, and the confidence to ask questions”

Josh Sutton is a Senior Engineering Manager at the airport, and part of his role is overseeing a team of seven apprentices, guiding them through their qualifications and on-the-job learning.

It’s a responsibility he takes very seriously having been in their position himself, initially joining the airport back in 2014 as an Engineering Apprentice before securing a full-time position as an Engineering Technician.

He then gained a promotion within the Engineering & Baggage Performance team, before becoming a Senior Engineering Manager in September 2023, specialising in the maintenance of the airport’s security and screening equipment.

He explained: “I gained fantastic experience through the apprenticeship that assisted me with my development as an engineer.

“Being a former apprentice gives me a perspective and a deep understanding of the journey our apprentices will go through. I understand the challenges and opportunities that come with starting a career through hands-on learning. That experience has shaped how I now approach managing our team of apprentices.

“As a team, we focus on giving them real-world experiences, practical guidance, and the confidence to ask questions and learn from mistakes. I try to be a role model, showing them that with hard work and dedication, progression within the organisation is achievable.”

Engineering Apprentices at Manchester Airport are at the heart of maintaining and supporting some of the critical systems that keep the airport running smoothly. The apprenticeship involves a mix of hands-on work, technical training, and real world problem-solving, where apprentices will learn to maintain, repair, and optimise key equipment such as security screening and baggage handling systems.

Josh said: “Our Engineering team is responsible for ensuring these systems operate reliably and efficiently, which is essential for the safety, security, and overall operation of our airport. In short, we’re the team that keeps everything behind the scenes running seamlessly, enabling a smooth experience for passengers and staff alike.”

“If you’re considering an apprenticeship, I’d say definitely go for it”

23-year-old Dominic Miles, from Wilmslow, is taking a Level 3 Bus and Coach Engineering apprenticeship at Manchester Airport. He is due to complete his course by July 2026.

He explained: “I wanted to study to improve my knowledge and my skills, but I also wanted to work at the same time to get the hands-on experience.

“Most of my day-to-day work involves maintaining the airport’s bus fleet, which is in line with what I am learning in college, so I can put what I have learnt into practice. I do still get to work on a wide range of vehicles from across the airport, which is great, as it allows me to hone my skills in other areas.

“With my responsibilities, I work alongside a mentor to service and maintain the bus fleet. Since I passed my first year, I got more independence to develop my skills whilst still having my mentor to double check my methods and results.”

“My aspirations are to learn as much as I can and grab any opportunity I can for extra training. If you’re considering an apprenticeship, I’d say definitely go for it – it’s a great opportunity not just to gain a qualification but to set yourself up for a long career.”

“I wanted a more practical path rather than the traditional route”

Not all of the apprenticeships available at Manchester Airports are about nuts and bolts.

Mia Mason, 18, from Trafford, is a CSR [Corporate Social Responsibility] Apprentice at the airport. Alongside studying for her qualification, she works as part of the team responsible for the airport’s community outreach programmes.

She said: “I chose the apprenticeship because of my interest in aviation and airports, and I wanted a more practical path rather than the traditional route.

“I study once a week at Manchester Metropolitan University, which tends to be on a Wednesday morning, but at the end of every term I go in for two full days. That aside, though, it’s very focused on gaining practical experience of the work the airport does in the community.

“When I’m at University we look at a range of topics, everything from donut economics to strategy management, get under the skin of the subject with our studies then apply it in the real world in our work placements.

“I have enjoyed my apprenticeship so far as it is my first corporate job, and I have found everyone is very understanding and welcoming. I have also found that I still have time to do things with my University friends who decided to take a different route, so I get the best of both worlds which is nice.

“There are so many exciting apprenticeships out there and MAG opens so many doors by offering a variety of courses and learning opportunities that you would not get by going down a traditional route.”

“It’s been a privilege to see apprentices develop successful careers”

Manchester Airport’s Aerodrome and Landside Director, Rad Taylor, started his career at Manchester Airport in 1992 as a trainee in the Finance team. Alongside studying, his role involved working with various airport departments on their expenditure and budgets, drafting reports and administering the accounting system.

Following a year-long traineeship, he secured a permanent position within the Airport Administration team and has not looked back. Three decades later, he now has overall responsibility for day-to-day aviation operations at Manchester Airport across all three of its terminals and its airfield, covering everything from safety and regulatory compliance, to airport security operations and contingency planning.

He explained: “I always had an ambition to work at the airport, particularly on the airfield. My traineeship and my subsequent roles helped me develop a broad range of skills and insights for a successful career in aviation.

“One of the first big projects I worked on was a public consultation into plans for the airport’s second runway – a facility I’m now responsible for – and I worked with the Planning & Environment team to ensure the operations of the airport were conducted with our local communities in mind. I was then successful in securing a role with the Airfield Operations team and held a number of operational and management roles within that team before taking up my current post.

“As a former trainee myself, I know the value that on-the-job learning can offer to young people at the start of their careers and we offer such a wide range of apprenticeships here, from practical roles in the airport operation, to office-based positions. It has been a privilege to see a number of apprentices develop successful careers in our Airport Fire Service, for example, and joining our Airfield Operations team as they start their careers at Manchester Airport. It is great to be able to share my own experiences of developing a career in aviation and at MAG with our apprentices. 

“If you’re considering taking an apprenticeship with MAG, or a career in aviation more generally, my advice to you would be to seize the opportunity, have a learning mindset and a strong focus on your personal development – and the world is your oyster!”

Further information on the airport’s apprenticeship programme can be found at www.manchesterairport.co.uk/recruitment/early-talent-and-careers/. You can also reach the team directly at early.talent@magairports.com.