Global aerospace firm supports employment initiative at Scottish college

GE Aerospace and the GE Aerospace Foundation confirmed that one of its partners receiving a donation is Ayrshire College.

The college, which is spread across three campuses in Kilmarnock, Ayr and Kilwinning, is to receive approximately $50,000 (£38,500) from the global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader to support the offering of an evening class with additional tools and materials.

The donation will also help establish a training hangar and teaching centre at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, giving approximately 100 students hands-on experience in the aerospace and manufacturing sectors.

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“We believe it’s important to contribute to the local economy by fostering skills where jobs are based”, GE Aerospace and the GE Aerospace Foundation noted.

“The airport already serves as an aircraft maintenance, repair, and operations for aviation companies, and with local talent can go even further.”

Christian Meisner, GE Aerospace Chief Human Resource Officer and GE Aerospace Foundation Chair, added: “Providing training opportunities and reducing barriers for workers to gain skills are key to the future of the aerospace industry.

“But we cannot do this urgent work alone. It will take partners like the ones GE Aerospace and the GE Foundation are awarding, and we look forward to expanding on this work to support workers and the broader industry at this critical time.”

Following the announcement, Ayrshire College took to social media to share its delight at receiving the donation. 

The donation will help establish a training hangar and teaching center at Prestwick airport for students to gain hands-on experience

The college posted: “Ayrshire College is thrilled to receive a donation from GE Aerospace to provide more workforce training opportunities.

“GE Aerospace is focused on lifting up local communities, and this donation will help build a stronger manufacturing workforce. We’re excited to see what’s next for our students and proud to continue this incredible partnership”

Headquartered in Evendale near Cincinnati in Ohio, GE Aerospace is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 44,000 commercial and 26,000 military aircraft engines. It has a global team of 52,000 employees.

The GE Aerospace Foundation, an independent charitable organization funded by GE Aerospace, complements the company’s purpose to “lift people up” in communities where employees live and work around the world.

The Foundation’s philanthropic strategy and programs focus on engineering education, workforce development, and disaster relief. 

A Glasgow Prestwick Airport spokesperson said: “We continue to engage and support strategic partners focused on regional economic development and support the training and development of new aeronautical engineers. There is high demand for skilled engineers from our MRO tenants as well as the world class companies that make up the Aviation Campus that surrounds the Airport.

“We wish to develop a world-leading aeronautical engineering and innovation college campus on site, and we are working with our strategic educational partners as well as the aerospace cluster to create a learning environment, which will provide the skills and practical training necessary to ensure the sector continues to flourish for future generations of aeronautical engineers.

“This training hangar is the first step in this much larger vision, and we look forward to welcoming the students to the hangar in the New Year.”