The Air and Space Institute (ASI) in Newark has officially opened its doors to its first group of students. The facility, valued at £15.4 million, is designed to provide world-class educational opportunities for future generations in the aerospace industry.
Developed through the Pagabo National Framework for Major Construction Works and delivered by Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson, the ASI facility offers a unique training ground to prepare students for roles in airlines, the military and airports, as well as logistics companies across the UK and internationally.
The new three-storey building is situated next to the Newark and Sherwood District Council offices, on the historic site of the former Cattle Market. Part of Newark College and the Lincoln College Group, it is reportedly only the second facility of its kind in the UK, featuring cutting-edge amenities that enhance hands-on learning experiences. These include flight simulators, expansive hangars, engineering workshops and seminar rooms.
One of the standout features of the new facility is the installation of the full-sized Airbus A318. Originally planned to include only a section of the fuselage, collaboration between the contractors, designers and a private flight director led to the installation of the entire aircraft. This required reinforced concrete pads, a hydraulic gantry and specially designed structural supports to secure the plane, providing an unparalleled learning tool for students.
The building also incorporates five air source heat pumps, two air handling units and three extracts to minimise energy use. The project also emphasised local sourcing and low-emission vehicles, with 92% of spending and labour sourced within 40 miles of the site. Additionally, 99.3% of site waste was recycled, aligning with the Government’s Net Zero agenda.
The ASI is expected to significantly benefit the local community, providing employment opportunities and boosting the local economy. The facility will host over 200 students annually and is set to create nearly 40 new jobs directly, with many more anticipated in the future.
Adrian Grocock, managing director at G F Tomlinson, expressed his pride in the project, stating: “It’s been an honour to turn Lincoln College Group’s vision into a reality, providing a world-class training facility for young people entering the aerospace industry.”
Councillor Matthew Spoors, portfolio holder for sustainable economic development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “[The facility] goes beyond just education but will create exciting developments for our local community. It will provide employment opportunities and boost our local economy. It will directly create almost 40 new jobs for the area and importantly will create many more over the coming generations to those wanting to embark on careers and pathways into better skilled, well-paid jobs in the civil and military aviation industries.”
Tom Marsden, chief strategy and transformation officer at the Lincoln College Group praised the collaborative effort and the transformative impact of the facility, while David Llewellyn, head of construction and infrastructure at Pagabo Group emphasised the importance of sustainability and social value in the project’s procurement process. He said: “Sustainability and social value really are at the heart of effective future procurement, so it’s been brilliant to facilitate a project which also upholds these values at every touchpoint.”
