“Not only will these support individuals to gain the necessary skills to the appropriate level that employers are looking for,” said Simon Witts, director of City & Guilds for business, “but by addressing industry requirements, they will help to develop the skilled workforce the UK needs for future economic growth”.

City & Guilds is delighted to have secured funding to offer, as part of the scheme, a Higher Apprenticeship for Professional Pilots, a qualification which they believe will ‘revolutionise the training provision in this field,’ and provide potential pilots with, ‘more affordable, accessible route to a recognised qualification, giving more people the opportunity to excel in this exciting career’.

The qualification, which will be offered through the City & Guilds For Business arm, has contacts with industry experts and employers, including the National Apprenticeship Service, the Civil Aviation Service, and Jet2.com, which have worked in conjunction with City & Guilds, to provide the best training in the development of the project.

This City & Guilds Apprenticeship has also opened to fill a skills gap, which could potentially endanger the aviation industry after warnings of a potential lack of professional pilots over the next 5 years.

“Further developing the current training structure is a priority,” says Witts, and “At City & Guilds, enabling our learners to progress to the highest standard is a key area of focus.”

Daisy Atkinson