West Sussex

New Aviation Academy in Crawley Helps Locals Get Airport Jobs

By

Lisa Hayes
13 March 2026, 11:41 am

On 12 March 2026, Crawley College announced a new partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions and London Gatwick Airport to launch a training programme designed to get local people into work. The new London Gatwick Aviation Academy in Crawley, West Sussex, will provide specialised training for residents looking to start careers in the aviation industry.

The programme focuses on teaching the specific skills needed for various roles at the nearby airport. This initiative aims to help job seekers by giving them the exact training required by employers in the sector.

Students who finish the course will be given the chance to meet and be interviewed by businesses operating at the airport. This provides a direct path from the classroom to a potential job offer for those taking part.

Sir Peter Schofield, the Permanent Secretary at the government department for work, attended an official launch event for the partnership in early March 2026. The project is supported by the college principal, Christine Bianchin, as a way to boost employment opportunities in the local area.

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