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It's a 'go' for new Flybe Training Academy!
09 September 2009
Flybe's £24m Training Academy, an initiative of national and
local significance backed by the South West RDA (Regional
Development Agency), has been cleared for takeoff.
The Learning and Skills Council today announced its approval of
a £4.2m grant for the new facility. This, in turn, unlocks a
commitment of £2.8m from the South West RDA. The funding was
announced by Skills Minister Kevin Brennan, who was visiting the
Flybe training centre to observe the work that takes place
there.
The new academy will enable Flybe, Europe's largest regional
airline, to consolidate all its training operations on one site,
adjacent to its corporate headquarters in Exeter. This will support
the company's own training and growth requirements and,
importantly, also give it the space and critical mass to increase
its training of staff from other organisations, a key component of
its business plan.
Kevin Brennan said: "It is great news that Flybe has received
funding to provide high-quality training to people who are keen to
broaden their skills and improve their employability.
"Britain needs vital investment to improve the skills of the
workforce. That's why we continue to help people access the
training they need to get into and get on at work, especially in
tougher times, and make sure they are best placed to win those jobs
of the future."
The project is within the East of Exeter/Exeter Airport area,
the main business and housing growth area for the city over the
next 20 years and a "priority place" for the South West RDA. The
academy will also provide direct benefits to three of the agency's
priority sectors - advanced engineering, aerospace and tourism.
Suzanne Bond, Executive Director of People and Skills at the
South West RDA said: "We are delighted to be working with Flybe, a
company of strategic importance for the South West.
"This is an excellent example of the public sector working with
the private sector to develop a skills project that will not only
support a major regional business but also the local
community."
"It will create 200 jobs and represents an investment in skills,
a key driver of productivity."
"The region, like others in the UK, needs to lift its science,
technology, engineering and maths skills. This investment will
enable the training of many more engineering apprentices."
As well as with the RDA and LSC, the project has been developed
in partnership with Exeter College and Exeter University, both of
whom will be involved in running the academy when its opens in
2010.
The academy's 'Open Access' status means that, by year five,
companies other than Flybe will account for 70 per cent of its
capacity.
The new facility will include a block of 25 classrooms, as well
as a building housing four flight simulators. It has been designed
to conform with the highest sustainable construction levels,
including natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting, onsite sewage
treatment and low energy electrical fittings. This will help the
project comply with the agency's commitment to a net zero carbon
investment portfolio by 2013.
Jim French, Flybe's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
commented: "We are naturally delighted to have now received final
confirmation of the funding available to help with this major
investment. Now this is secured, we can finally go ahead with
fulfilling our commitment to the region by building our world-class
training facility here in Exeter.
"The confidence shown by the LSC and RDA in our ability to offer
quality world class training is validation of Flybe's commitment to
place training at the heart of its development. In partnership with
the University of Exeter and Exeter College, this already includes
the only industry-wide recognised Cabin Crew NVQ (National Vocation
Qualification), Engineering Apprenticeships, Call Centre NVQ and
Foundation Degree.
"Not only will the additional jobs created by the Academy
project provide an especially welcome boost for the regional
economy but also, importantly, cements our commitment to bridging
the skills' gap. It's crucial that the employers of today work more
closely with the education system to match paper qualifications to
the real world of work.
"This is why, with today's good news, we are so delighted to be
able to move one giant step forward to completing this commitment
with the creation of our new world-class Training Academy."
Ends
Notes to Editors:
- The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential.
- The South West RDA's total support for the Flybe National
Academy is £2.95m, comprising £124,000 towards the business plan
and due diligence, and project funding of £2.83m.
- The facility aims to achieve an "excellent" BREEAM rating. The
BRE Environmental Assessment Method is the leading and most widely
used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the
standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the
de facto measure used to describe a building's environmental
performance.