Aviation Academy takes off with help from RLB

Press Release

Property and Construction Consultant Rider Levett Bucknall is flying high after delivering a pioneering aviation academy that will launch the engineers of the future.

Based at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, the academy is a £10m joint venture between community interest company Directions Finningley and industry giant Marshall Aerospace.

The Directions Finningley National Aviation Academy, which was funded by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and the European Union, has been developed to provide a world-class training facility for highly-qualified aviation engineers and to address the skills shortage in the sector.

Directions Finningley, which is based at the airport and, as one of the UK's first community interest companies, is dedicated to improving the economic and social welfare of the area, recognised the wealth of expertise at Rider Levett Bucknall and appointed it to project manage the scheme.

In addition to project management, the practice's Sheffield office provided quantity and building surveying as well as CDM co-ordinator services and regeneration advice. The team at Rider Levett Bucknall played a pivotal role in the two-phase development which resulted in the transformation of a 55,000 sq ft former World War II aircraft hanger into a state-of-the-art academy equipped with the latest hi-tech equipment.

Chris Abbishaw, Senior Surveyor at Rider Levett Bucknall, says the client transferred all of the project responsibilities to the practice and its only intervention was to choose the paint scheme and floor colourings.

He says: "It was an extremely exciting scheme to work on, and in a refreshing approach to construction, the client imparted complete management of the project including design and delivery to our team."

"The project was delivered on time and the Directions Finningley National Aviation Academy is an industry leading training academy which will help plug the skills gap for qualified aviation engineers."

"The academy is another excellent example of the work by Directions Finningley which has helped revitalised the local community and created a number of jobs to bring greater prosperity to the region."

Directions Finningley Chairman and Yorkshire Forward Director, Don Stewart, is delighted with RLB's services on the scheme. He said "I will always recommend RLB as they will save you money" and added "please include us on your list of satisfied customers - we would be more than happy to provide references in the future".