Airport college expansion backed by £5 million investment
Plans to more than double the number of students at Stansted Airport College have received a major boost after Essex County Council confirmed a £5 million contribution towards the scheme.
Councillor Peter Harris, Leader of Essex County Council, joined senior colleagues on a visit to London Stansted to discuss the proposed expansion and see first-hand how the specialist college is helping develop the aviation workforce of the future.
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the next phase of development at the aviation, engineering and STEM college, which opened on the airport campus in 2018 and has become one of the UK's leading centres for aviation skills training.
Earlier this month, Harlow College and London Stansted submitted a planning application for the proposed expansion.
If approved, student numbers would increase from 568 to around 1,350, creating opportunities for hundreds more young people to train for careers in aviation and related industries.
The plans include a new two-storey teaching building containing 12 classrooms, a workshop and hangar building, a covered courtyard and an expanded Aerozone education centre featuring a viewing platform.
The first phase of development, which includes the workshop, hangar and covered courtyard, is expected to open in September 2027.
During the visit, councillors also toured the airport and received an update on London Stansted's ongoing transformation programme, which is improving facilities for passengers and preparing the airport for future growth.
As the largest single employment site in the East of England, London Stansted supports tens of thousands of jobs and plays a vital role in connecting Essex businesses and communities with markets across Europe and beyond.
Councillor Peter Harris, Leader of Essex County Council, said:
“This visit was an opportunity to reaffirm our £5 million investment in the expansion of Stansted Airport College, helping create more training places and providing local people with a pathway into highly skilled careers.
"It marks my commitment as Leader to unlock growth, create opportunities and deliver projects that have been in development stage for some time.
"By strengthening our partnership with Stansted Airport and Harlow College, we are investing in our future skills pipeline, helping local people gain valuable qualifications, while providing businesses with the talent they need to grow.
“Stansted Airport is one of Essex’s most important economic assets, supporting jobs, connectivity, tourism and investment.
"Through the expansion of training capacity at the college by more than 500 places, Essex residents and local businesses will be at the forefront of the opportunities that follow.
"The success of Stansted Airport College demonstrates what can be achieved when local government, education providers and employers work together around a shared ambition.”
Gareth Powell, Managing Director of London Stansted, said:
"We were delighted to welcome leaders from Essex County Council to the airport and thank them for their continued support for Stansted Airport College.
"The council's £5 million commitment is a major vote of confidence in a college that has exceeded expectations since opening and has become hugely popular with students looking to build careers in aviation, engineering and other technical industries.
"There is strong demand for the courses on offer and this expansion will enable hundreds more young people from across Essex and the wider region to gain the skills, qualifications and experience employers are looking for.
"This investment reflects our shared ambition to create more opportunities for local people, support economic growth and ensure the region has the skilled workforce needed for the future.
"Skills, connectivity and infrastructure investment are all closely linked, and together they help drive prosperity across Essex and the East of England."
Karen Spencer, Principal and Chief Executive of Harlow College, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Essex County Council for this significant investment in the future of Stansted Airport College and, most importantly, in the young people of Essex.
“Since opening in 2018, the college has gone from strength to strength, and demand from young people wanting to pursue careers in aviation, engineering and STEM continues to grow.
"This expansion will allow us to create opportunities for hundreds more students, while developing the specialist facilities needed to prepare them for highly skilled careers.
“The success of Stansted Airport College has always been built on strong partnership between education, employers and the airport.
"Essex County Council’s £5 million commitment is a fantastic endorsement of that approach and of our shared ambition to ensure local young people can access the skills and careers being created right here on their doorstep.”
The visit also explored opportunities for further collaboration between the airport and Essex County Council on programmes that support skills development, employment and economic growth across the county.