A week‑long aviation careers and skills programme for local young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) was held at Manston Airport last week, marking a significant step to boost future employment opportunities for residents across Thanet and East Kent.
The programme was organised by Brighter Futures Social Investments (BFSI), in partnership with RSP Manston, with the support of airport tenants including Bristow Helicopters, Polar Helicopters, Helix AV, and Avman Engineering, as well as the RAF Manston Museum. BFSI’s partners in the aviation skills week programme include the Department for Work and Pensions, Civil Aviation Authority and RAF Careers – all of whom also contributed to the event. Four days were hosted at Manston Airport, with one day at Nelson College, Ramsgate.
The programme introduced 14 young people aged 16–25 – all from Thanet and the surrounding areas – to the wide range of careers available in aviation, airport management and aerospace. Participants took part in soft‑skills training, employer workshops and hands‑on sessions designed to build confidence and open pathways into long‑term employment.
A presentation about Manston Airport’s past, present and future, and employment opportunities was presented to the group by Airport General Manager Gary Blake. Sir Roger Gale MP also joined the group on Friday to tour facilities at the airport.
Thanet has the highest number of NEETs in Kent and Medway, and BFSI’s work focuses on supporting young people from disadvantaged or under‑represented backgrounds who often face systemic barriers to work. Funding from the Civil Aviation Authority’s Reach for the Sky programme is enabling Brighter Futures to deliver this targeted support within Thanet as the region looks forward to the reopening of Manston in four years’ time.
Through the Development Consent Order, RSP Manston has made a firm commitment to ensuring that local people benefit from the reopening of Manston – through local recruitment, procurement and long‑term investment in skills. By the fifth year of operation, Manston will support 2,150 direct jobs on site and 13,100 indirect and catalytic jobs across the wider economy. Roles will span construction, logistics, engineering, customer service and airport operations.
Reflecting on the week, Tony Freudmann, Director of RSP Manston, said:
“The number and range of jobs that will be created at Manston will be a genuine game changer for Thanet.
“Our commitment is simple: local jobs for local people, and a talent pipeline that supports both Manston Airport and the wider East Kent economy. Building the right education, training and apprenticeship pathways to achieve this takes time and planning – and is something we have been collaborating on with local authorities, business organisations and educational institutions since 2019 through the Manston Skills and Education Board.
“Working with organisations like BFSI to open the eyes of the next generation to careers in aviation offered an important and valuable opportunity – and we look forward to following the progress of the young people we met this week as they move forward into training and apprenticeships.”
James Brumer, of Brighter Futures Social Investment, added:
“We believe that talent and potential exists throughout Thanet and East Kent, but access to meaningful opportunities, like this week’s programme, are not always available.
“BFSI extends its gratitude to all the local stakeholders and referral partners, including Kent Adult Education and the Department for Work and Pensions. This collaboration demonstrates what meaningful social value and social mobility can look like when organisations work together to remove barriers and create opportunities.
“Special thanks goes to RSP Manston Airport and its tenant partners, who have generously hosted four days of the five-day programme. By opening their doors, the aviation community in Thanet has shown these young individuals that the opportunities are there and there is no limit to their aspirations.”