Gatwick Aviation Academy Helps More Than 100 People Take Steps Towards Employment

More than 100 people have completed a training programme at London Gatwick aimed at helping local jobseekers develop skills and find work within the aviation industry.

The Gatwick Aviation Academy, which launched in February 2026, has so far supported 110 participants from areas including Surrey, Sussex and Croydon.

The 10-day programme gives participants an introduction to working in aviation, along with a recognised Level 1 Introduction to Aviation qualification. Those completing the course are also offered a guaranteed interview with one of the employers involved in the scheme.

According to Gatwick, 59 participants have either already secured employment or are waiting to begin a new role.

The programme is delivered in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Crawley College, John Ruskin College and a group of employers operating at the airport.

Companies taking part include Swissport, DHL, dnata, World Duty Free, SSP and Wilson James, among others.

Supporting local people into work

The Academy is designed to give people who are looking for employment a better understanding of the wide range of jobs available at Gatwick, while also helping them develop workplace and customer-service skills.

This may be of particular interest to jobseekers in Horley and the surrounding area, with the airport one of the largest employment centres close to the town.

The Department for Work and Pensions says around 70% of participants from Sussex and Surrey have moved into employment following the programme.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden recently visited Gatwick, where he met participants and apprentices involved in the scheme.

The programme forms part of the Government’s Sector-based Work Academy Programme, which brings employers and training providers together to help unemployed people gain experience and move into available jobs.

From training to a job at Gatwick

One graduate of the programme, Osatahamhen Odigie, has since started work as a Customer Service Advisor with Swissport.

She said the course helped her better understand the opportunities available at the airport while developing her customer-service skills and giving her greater confidence about her future career.

Gatwick says the scheme also benefits airport employers by creating a new route for recruiting and training people for roles across the aviation sector.

With more than 100 people completing the Academy during its first six months, the airport and its partners are continuing to use the programme as a pathway into employment for people living across the local region.

Source: London Gatwick Aviation Academy announcement, 14 August 2026.