Regional airline Flybe has appointed Exeter College as its lead academic partner for its new training academy, scheduled to open in the autumn.
The college, in collaboration with Exeter University, beat off competition from eight regional providers, and will be involved in training the existing 3,000 Flybe staff, and joint planning for the academy.
Based in Exeter, the new training facility will house learning solutions for employees across the airline’s range of job functions and is expected to create further job opportunities in the South West, according to Flybe.
Exeter College will receive a yet-to-be-determined amount in government funding from the Learning Skills Council each year.
Andrew Strong, chief operating officer at Flybe, said: “We fully understand the importance of attracting and retaining a skilled and qualified workforce, and we have a long and proud history of developing our own staff.”
Flybe was the only airline out of 150 leading UK companies to sign the government’s skills pledge in June.
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Strong added: “Flybe’s training academy sees us quickly following up on our commitment to the government’s new skills pledge and we are immensely proud to find ourselves in the situation we’re in, where in some six weeks, we are already putting our plans into action.”
Richard Atkins, principal of Exeter College, said: “Exeter College is keen to be at the forefront of the skills agenda, supporting dynamic employers across the South West to develop employees’ skills to face the demands of any industry.”
