Step behind the scenes of airport operations and discover what it takes to keep the airfield running safely and efficiently. Meet members of our Airside Operations and AOCC teams, explore the airside hub, take part in a runway and airfield tour and visit the ATC Tower. Learn about the different roles within the teams, the skills required for these careers and the important part they play in the day-to-day running of the airport.

See how multiple teams work together to create a safe, efficient and welcoming experience for passengers. Meet colleagues from Terminal Operations, Security and AOCC and learn how they support passengers, manage airport operations, and maintain safety. You’ll also visit the ATC Tower to learn more about the AOCC team and discover the wide range of career opportunities available across airport operations.

Experience life as an airport firefighter and learn about the skills, training and teamwork involved in the role. Explore the fire station, see fire safety procedures in action and gain an insight into the day-to-day responsibilities of the team. You’ll also learn some basic first aid skills and, if you feel comfortable, have the opportunity to try on firefighting equipment and accompany the team as they take fire vehicles to the runway area. Discover the qualifications and career pathway needed to become an airport firefighter and ask questions throughout the day.

Explore how safety and sustainability come together at Scotland’s busiest airport. Meet colleagues from the Health, Safety and Environment team and learn about risk assessments, hazard awareness, environmental management and sustainability initiatives. Discover how safety is supported across both the airfield and terminal, learn how major projects are managed and explore the different career pathways available within the team.

Discover how technology helps monitor airport noise and supports responsible airport operations. Learn how the airport’s Noise and Track Monitoring systems work, explore how monitoring data is used and see noise monitoring equipment in action around the airport. You’ll also gain an understanding of how the airport works with local communities and how the Environmental, Health & Safety and Sustainability teams work together to support safe and sustainable operations.

Learn how people are recruited, supported and paid in a busy airport environment. Spend time with different areas of the HR & Payroll team, discover how recruitment processes work, observe interviews and learn what makes a strong job application. You’ll also practise note-taking skills, gain an introduction to payroll and support the team with a range of administrative tasks while exploring careers in Human Resources.

Gain an insight into how an in-house legal team supports a busy international airport. Learn about the team’s roles and responsibilities, see how commercial contracts are negotiated and managed, and explore the wide range of legal issues that arise across airport operations. You’ll also learn about regulatory compliance, the legal aspects of construction projects, personal data and privacy considerations, and how the Legal team works with colleagues across the business to support strategic decision-making and manage legal risk.

Find out how the airport manages its finances and supports the day-to-day running of the business. Work alongside members of the Finance team to explore how payments are processed, invoices are managed and financial information is maintained. You’ll gain experience using finance systems, learn how money moves through different areas of the airport and discover the skills and qualifications that can lead to a career in finance.

Throughout the day, you’ll spend time with members of the Retail team to get a full picture of how retail shops, coffee shops and bars & restaurants work in an airport environment. This will include learning about the team’s roles and responsibilities, understanding how passenger behaviour, sales performance and customer experience shape decision-making, and gaining insight into how airport shops, restaurants and cafés are managed day to day. You’ll also hear about career paths, see how the team works with retail partners and operators, and learn how running a profitable business is balanced with delivering a great experience for all the different passengers travelling through the terminal.

Throughout the day, you’ll spend time with members of the Airport’s Learning and Development team to gain an insight into how training is delivered across a busy airport operation. You’ll shadow team members, learn about their roles and responsibilities and get a behind-the-scenes look at how training is planned, coordinated and delivered across the business. You’ll meet the wider team, hear about their career journeys and learn about the different pathways into learning and development. As part of the experience, you’ll join colleagues airside to see some of the specialist operational training required to work in the airport environment, including areas such as driver training. You’ll also observe training in action, develop an understanding of effective presentation and communication skills, and gain tips on building confidence when presenting and engaging with different audiences.

Ever wondered who decides what an airport says? When a new route to somewhere brilliant is announced, when a new service opens in the terminal, when the airport sets out what it plans to do about its impact on the environment, someone has to find the right words. Over two days you will meet the team that does exactly that, and then you will try it yourselves.

Day one: Behind the Airport’s Voice

Meet the people responsible for everything you see, read and hear about Edinburgh Airport, from the adverts in the terminal to the statements quoted on the news. You will spend time with each part of the team and discover how new routes and airport services are promoted, how the press, political and social media side of the airport works, and how more than a thousand colleagues are kept informed. You will also learn about sustainability at the airport, how we work with the communities around us, what airspace change means for Scotland and how aircraft noise is monitored and reported. Along the way you will hear how each of us ended up in this job, and the very different routes we took to get here.

Day two: When Things Go Wrong

Today the airport has a problem, and you are the communications team. Working from a brief that develops as the day goes on, you will start with an ordinary morning and then find everything changes. You will need to think about passengers, colleagues, the local community and the press, all at once and all under time pressure. You will not know what is coming next, and neither would we. By the end of the day you will have found out what this job actually feels like when the clock is running.