Newark Advertiser gains first look inside the Air and Space Institute being built off Cattlemarket roundabout in Newark in collaboration with Newark and Sherwood District Council and Lincoln College Group

For the first time, the Advertiser has been granted an exclusive look inside the Air and Space Institute as the project continues to move forward.

Once open in September, the £15m facility currently being built just off the Cattlemarket Roundabout will offer state-of-the-art aviation and space sector training, making Newark a hub for industry expertise.

All internal electrical and building works have now been completed, with just the finishing and decorating works remaining before furniture and equipment can be fully moved and installed into the new building.

The institute’s statement piece is the Airbus A318 passenger jet, which takes pride of place in a dedicated hangar and will be used in everything from hands-on engineering works, to pilot training once a simulator is installed in the cockpit.

Originally flown with Air France before it was decommissioned in 2022, the Airbus has been upgraded to meet the specifications of the newer A320 currently in operation with airlines around the world.

Part of this upgrade includes the installation of a CRM56 jet engine, which was delivered to the temporary facilities at Newark College last year and has already been put to good use by students as a training tool.

The interior of the jet will also be stripped back and refitted so that tutors can simulate real-world situations and emergencies for cabin crew training.

Elsewhere in the building will be dedicated simulators for a number of different aircraft including helicopters, VR studios for ground crew training, and fabrication and design workshops fitted with the latest equipment from 3D printers and robotic arms, to basic metal rollers, benders and machinery.

There are also ten different classrooms and an adaptable seminar room for guest speakers and industry leads to hold lectures and meetings.

The rooms and workshops throughout the building will be named after famous stars and aircraft, including the Spitfire and Typhoon.

Jim Guthrie, ASI curriculum lead, said: “I’m Newark raised, so for me this is like coming full circle.

“It’s massive for the area, it’s massive for employment, and it’s massive for learners because to get into aviation is a very difficult thing.

“This will open doors for young people to get into careers that they previously weren’t able to get into.

“Nowhere else in the country has access to an aircraft like this, to be able to get hands on experience while learning — it’s a first.

“We will be delivering everything from aircraft maintenance and operations qualifications to travel and tourism, into higher education and apprenticeships.

“We’re not training astronauts here, we’re training the next generation of specialists and engineers to get stuff off the ground and up into space that we use everyday without realising.”

The project received £10m from the Newark Towns Fund through a partnership with Newark and Sherwood District Council and additional funding from the Lincoln College Group.

The ASI is also working closely with the Royal Air Force, East Midlands Airport, Nottingham Trent University and the National Space Centre to ensure that students have connections and access to industry experts and experience.

Currently, Newark College is acting as a temporary training facility for ASI students, who will be able to move into the building by mid-April.

In September the ASI will welcome over 200 new and current students, increasing to over 300 the following year.

ASI assistant principle, Ross Tarnowski, said: “There is a huge demand for it at the moment, there is a shortage worldwide and in the UK of aircraft engineers and operators and if we can produce those locally that can only be a good thing for the area.

“We cater to everything across the aerospace sector, and I want young people to know that these jobs are open to everyone regardless of their background and there shouldn’t be a barrier to entry.

“Our state-of-the-art facility will not only offer a great opportunity for new learners to gain invaluable hands-on experience, it will give opportunities for those already in the industry to come and retrain or up-skill their knowledge.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone later this year.”

The building is spacious and filled with natural light, and students will benefit from a large landscaped area surrounding the building as well as a dedicated on site cafe.

Last week Newark and Sherwood District Council approved the design of the ASI’s new signage which is expected be installed on the side of the building in the coming months.

An open day event will take place at Newark College tomorrow (February 21) at 4pm, giving young people a chance to find out more about what will be on offer at the ASI once it opens fully this September.

The first chance prospective students will have to see the facility will be at open days on April 25 and June 8.