Ascent Flight Training

The Ascent team at was delighted to once again support ‘Cranfest’, the station's families day and local engagement event. As long-standing backers of Cranfest, this was a great chance for us to share a ‘hands-on’ experience with our virtual reality trainer demo, chat about our work with and offer insights into our career opportunities. A fantastic event in the Cranwell calendar for Ascent to stay connected with the station and wider local community, building on the strength of our ever-growing partnership.

Our teams at , and our Bristol Training Hub have been welcoming young people from our local communities, who have come to our sites to get a taste of working in defence, training and aviation.

The feedback received from the students has been overwhelmingly positive. They particularly appreciated the variety of activities, the enthusiasm shown by everyone involved, and the opportunity to gain first-hand insight. Several commented on how valuable it was to speak directly with professionals and experience technologies that are not normally accessible to young people. "I learned a lot about myself and everything I learned has definitely cleared me a pathway for my future career," said one student. "Having a ‘rare’ career doesn’t have to be as impossible as it seems," said another.

The success of all our work experience is a real testament to the time, effort and commitment of our teams across the UK. Whether hosting visits, delivering presentations, demonstrating equipment, sharing personal career experiences, or supporting the logistics of the programme, every contribution from our staff, suppliers and customers helped create an inspiring and rewarding experience for the students. Thanks to all involved. 👏

Ascent staff from across across the UK attended the Women in Defence UK Critical Mass Summit 2026, joining defence industry professionals for a day of inspiring discussions, valuable networking and thought-provoking insights into the future of UK Defence.

The summit reinforced the idea that progress is achieved when people come together, support one another and embrace different perspectives - a powerful reminder that creating an inclusive and empowering culture is everyone's responsibility. At Ascent, we remain committed to building a workplace where everyone feels they belong, where contributions are recognised and valued, and where we continue to grow as One Team, while delivering meaningful impact for our customers and the wider defence community.

The Ascent team have been out and about in the local community in recent weeks. Building on our growing relationship with the Air & Space Institute, members of the team attended and contributed to a recent skills and training seminar held at its base in Newark. We also hosted a stand at this year’s Annual Formal Reception held in York House Officers Mess at RAF Cranwell. And supported the recent RAF Equestrian Championships held in Caythorpe.

An amazing couple of days at the Defence Engagement event. Great conversations and a collaborative atmosphere, helping us share our key messages with customers, colleagues and suppliers. Thanks to all who came to see us, including Aquila Learning and MaxRes and to the fantastic team. Fingers crossed aircraft will be back at - and we are delighted to see Brian McFadden (ex Westlife, now Boyzlife) is a new Ascent fan!

A fantastic Day 1 at the Defence Engagement event. Some great conversations and a chance to share insights and expertise with our visitors. Thanks to all who joined us and to the hard working team.

It's a beautiful day here at South Cerney where we are delighted to join the Defence Engagement event. The Ascent team gathered for a short briefing at the start of the day and we look forward to welcoming customers, colleagues, suppliers throughout the next 2 days.

At Ascent, collaboration sits at the heart of everything we do. Every day, our teams work alongside our military colleagues and suppliers to deliver world-class flying training, and that partnership often extends far beyond the workplace.

That spirit was on full display during this year’s Whole Force Round the Island Run, a 24-hour relay covering the 200km coastline of Anglesey. With around 60 participants from across RAF Valley, the event was an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the relationships that exist between military personnel, civilian employees and industry partners, all united behind a common purpose.

Runners battled soaring summer temperatures, uneven coastal trails, overgrown footpaths, loose sand beneath their feet and relentless climbs along Anglesey’s spectacular coastline. Every kilometre demanded determination, resilience and teamwork.

That collaborative culture doesn’t just make RAF Valley a great place to work — it directly supports the success of the flying programme. Strong relationships, open communication and a genuine sense of teamwork create an environment where people are motivated to support one another, solve problems together and deliver excellence every single day. Read more: https://ascentflighttraining.com/one-team-one-mission-round-the-island-run/

While we are disappointed that there is no Royal International Air Tattoo ( ) this year, we are proud to support organisers the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust in a replacement global defence engagement event. The event will bring together international delegations, senior military leaders and industry representatives from the UK and across the world. It takes place this week (17/18 July ), the original dates of , with the annual public airshow cancelled due to lack of access to its venue, RAF Fairford.

This reconfigured event takes place at South Cerney, eight miles from RAF Fairford. It will welcome delegations from the US Air Force, France, Germany, Japan, Australia and around 45 other key global partners. The RAF’s Chief of the Air Staff has given the event his full support, and the Ascent team are looking forward to hosting guests from industry and UK and international military over the two days.