Manchester Airport Group to inspire 70,000 young people with new sustainability strategy over next five years

Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the UK’s largest airports group, has launched a new five-year Sustainability Strategy titled Creating a sustainable future for all, outlining bold plans to inspire 70,000 young people about careers in aviation. The initiative aims to create a diverse pipeline of talent while driving environmental progress across the Group’s operations.

Details on Manchester Airport Group’s sustainability strategy

The new Strategy focuses on two core pillars: Protecting our Environment and Community at our Core. Under the latter, MAG will engage with thousands of young people through education programmes and career events. Over £84,000 has been awarded to MAG from the government’s ‘Reach for the Sky Challenge Fund’ to help deliver a series of inspiring career festivals.

MAG, which owns Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports, alongside digital travel business CAVU, has long been a leader in grassroots education. Its Aerozones, free on-site education centres for pupils aged 4–18, are designed to showcase aviation careers in an engaging way. Partnerships with local colleges and the UK’s only on-site further education facility, Stansted Airport College, provide pre-employment training and aviation apprenticeships.

At the launch, Manchester Airport’s Youth Forum worked with aviation content creator and Department for Transport Ambassador Mo T ‘The Airport Guy’ to produce videos promoting the new Strategy. These forums, established in 2023, played a key role in shaping the strategy via a comprehensive materiality assessment.

Ken O’Toole, MAG CEO, said:

“With more than 70% of the UK population living within two hours of one of our airports, we are uniquely placed to drive positive change… I am proud to publish our Strategy today, confident it works to meet our emissions reduction and net zero targets, supports the education, skills and employment of thousands of people, and ensures we continue to be a force for good in our local communities.”

The Strategy also outlines MAG’s environmental goals, including achieving net zero carbon operations by 2038, sourcing 30% of electricity from on-site renewables by 2035, and generating £20m in sales for local SMEs through its Meet the Buyer programme by 2030.

CAVU also features for the first time in MAG’s sustainability planning, with targets such as eliminating single-use plastics from lounges by 2027 and introducing a Community Fund across the UK, US, Europe, and Australia.

Aviation Minister Mike Kane MP said:

“It’s fantastic to see key players like MAG training up the next generation of aviators… I also welcome the new sustainability plan, which will… support jobs across the country.”

Read the full report here.

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