Flybe welcomes royal lead

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, has welcomed the focus on Modern Apprenticeships in the Queen’s Speech to Parliament; saying that it provides strategic impetus to plans that it has developed since becoming the only UK airline to sign the Government’s Skills’ Pledge in June.

During the Speech, Her Majesty stated that draft legislation will be brought forward to reform apprenticeships and a Bill introduced that will provide new rights to skills training for adults; and Flybe is pleased to confirm it has already outlined a plan to launch a range of Modern Apprenticeships to underpin, feed and support its continuing growth after the acquisition of BA Connect earlier in the year.

Simon Witts, Flybe’s Director of Safety, Quality and Training says: “We have plans to launch Flybe apprenticeships in the New Year with the first enrolments expected from September 2008 onwards. These are currently the subject of discussions with the Government and relevant support agencies to secure agreement on the necessary support and funding to make them a reality.

We are therefore delighted that our plans –to be delivered under our recently announced ground-breaking partnership with Exeter College - have received the support provided by the Queen's Speech.”

Since committing to the Skills’ Pledge in June, Exeter-based Flybe – the South West’s largest private employer - has also announced plans to build a new Training Academy that will be ready for occupation in 2009.

Mr Witts adds that a pilot programme for Flybe’s Aviation Services has already started and that a number of others are under review for launch across all major airline functions. These include many areas not previously targeted in any other such schemes, which – when fully developed – will represent yet another first for the airline.