New aerospace training academy for Cambridge

Marshall Aerospace has opened a new training academy designed to make Cambridge and the UK a global hub for skills development in the industry.

Aerospace experts believe the move will underpin the development of greener aircraft and even space travel as engineers become more proficient at the cutting edge of future technologies.

Marshall says the campus – next to the Park and Ride site on Newmarket Road, Cambridge – will not only train the engineers of the future but also enhance the skills of existing aerospace technicians.

The academy will be opened by Will Whitehorn the president ofVirgin Galactic, who outlined the long-term benefits of the development.

He said: “Having had the privilege over the last five years of working on one of the most exciting aerospace projects ever developed I have learned to value the skills of the truly innovative engineers working at both Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites in Mojave, California.

“Without the continued development of these kinds of skills for the next generation we won’t see the future of carbon composites planes and spaceships come to fruition. I believe that the academy is a major step forward for Britain’s continued role as a leading aerospace design, development and manufacturing base.”Sir Michael Marshall, chairman and chief executive of Marshall of Cambridge said the refurbishment of the facility to create the aero academy campus represented a major investment which underscored the group’s commitment to the long term future of the industry in the UK and to Marshall Aerospace Cambridge.

He said: “At Marshall we understand that education and innovation go hand in hand and we pride ourselves on the competitive edge our skilled workforce brings to our business. “The tradition of investing in the development of new talent for industry can be traced back 100 years to the early days of the formation of the company.”