Representation by Barnfield College (Barnfield College)
- Date submitted
- 6 June 2023
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
As a long-term partner of Luton Airport, Barnfield College fully supports proposals to increase capacity at the airport by expanding the current terminal and building a new terminal and associated facilities. Barnfield College has seen a significant increase in the number of young people enrolling onto our Travel, Tourism and Aviation courses over the past few years, with the vast majority of these students aspiring to work at Luton Airport. In addition, many students studying other subjects such as business, marketing, IT, retail, and catering and hospitality, have strong aspirations to secure jobs at the Airport and within the aviation industry. Luton Airport is important to the local area and central to providing long-term employment opportunities for local people in Luton and the surrounding area. Barnfield College and Luton Airport have developed a strong relationship which allows students to develop their skills for jobs through a range of opportunities such as work experience, industry placements, and employer-led masterclasses about life in the travel industry. These opportunities are critical to the development of a person’s work-readiness and significantly increase the employability chances of young people, and at the same time ease the recruitment challenges many employers are currently facing. Luton Airport, uniquely owned by Luton Rising, is particularly important to economic sustainability and growth which will create long-term employment and training opportunities for many people. Crucially, the benefits of additional investment at the airport are not limited to the local area but will also support the wider UK economy. It is for all these reasons that Barnfield College fully supports the proposals to expand Luton Airport.