Students take flight with airport project

A sixth form college in Doncaster is helping students get their careers off the ground with a practical project at a regional airport.

Harrison College has partnered with Doncaster Sheffield Airport to deliver a workplace challenge, giving 16 students the opportunity to reimagine the interior of the terminal building.

The initiative forms part of ongoing work to prepare the airport for reopening, with a focus on redesigning spaces to improve the passenger experience.

Students explored ideas including interior design, themed relaxation areas and branding for lounges and airside facilities, aligning with the airport’s ambition to become a leading neuro-inclusive environment.

The collaboration reflects a wider push to develop skills across the region, with the airport also working alongside schools, colleges and universities to support training and career pathways.

Gemma Peebles, chief executive at Harrison College, said: “It is such a valuable opportunity for our students to have access to a project of this profile and significance, right on their doorstep. 

“The airport team have been very generous with their time, and the students have embraced the challenge with open arms. 

“Harrison College works with many businesses and organisations to provide its students with real-world experience of a variety of workplaces. 

“Our students were excited to take on this brief and came up with some really impressive ideas on how the airport should look and feel when it opens.” 

Christian Foster, director at FlyDoncaster, added: “We’ve been working on this initiative alongside the team at Harrison College for a number of months and our team were highly impressed with the professionalism and energy with which the students presented their ideas. 

“We’ve invited them back to meet with our architects, so that they can gain further valuable experience of the work that goes on behind the scenes of reopening an airport of this scale.

“We’ve always said that this project is a huge opportunity for developing skills in Doncaster and wider South Yorkshire. 

“This initiative is a great example of where we can gather insights from young people local to the area and get them excited about future job opportunities.”

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