A new Air and Space Institute (ASI) in Newark has officially opened.

The £15.4m state-of-the-art facility provides world-class educational opportunities for future generations of the aerospace industry.

Procured through the Pagabo National Framework for Major Construction Works and delivered by Midlands-based contractor, G F Tomlinson, the new ASI facility provides a unique opportunity for students aged 16-18 to train for pilot, engineer and ground-crew roles in airlines, the military, airports and logistics companies across the UK and abroad.

The new three-storey college building constructed for Newark College, which is part of the Lincoln College Group, sits adjacent to the Newark and Sherwood District Council offices on the former Cattle Market and is only the second of its kind to be built in the UK.

The facility provides high tech training for the air and space industry, accommodating a full-sized Airbus A318 for enhanced hands-on teaching experience, alongside a double height entrance hall, large open space hangar, flight simulators, teaching zones, engineering workshops, lecture and seminar areas.

It is anticipated that the building blueprint could form a model for future establishments of this type, across other areas of the UK.

Introducing a full-sized commercial aeroplane into the building posed a number of complexities including ensuring the installation was successfully implemented within the tight tolerances of the building.

The initial brief was just a section of the fuselage to be placed into the building. Through collaborative innovation with the client and designers on how the plane would be supported on specially designed wheel mounts, we were able to install the Airbus A318 as a whole unit, enhancing the learning experience for students.


G F Tomlinson sourced specialist advice from a private Flight Director who provided industry expertise to collaboratively assist with the permanent installation in the hangar. The aircraft was transported from the Air Salvage International base in Cirencester and travelled 110 miles by police escort to Newark.

Prior to arrival, reinforced concrete pads and beams were installed to strengthen the floor slab and a specialist hydraulic gantry was erected within the building to lift the fuselage from the low loader and temporarily suspend and support the aircraft mid-air.

Specially designed structural steel supporting systems were manufactured and installed to stabilise and take the weight of the aircraft, fixing it in its final position.

G F Tomlinson used BIM technology software from the conception of the scheme, to digitally map the complex build which comprised numerous articulated angles. Using world coordinate systems for its design and construction, the software allowed the contractor and client to work the design and use real time updates to navigate through all fundamental stages towards completion.

This software helped ensure the plane installation could be completed accurately, with tolerances down to millimetres.

Sustainability was an integral part of the project, with initiatives such as five air source heat pumps, two air handling units and three extracts incorporated within the building to reduce the overall energy building requirements.

During the project, 1140 car miles were driven using low-emission vehicles and we sourced 92% local spend and 92% local labour within 40 miles of site. 135.53 tonnes of wood waste materials were rescued from the waste stream and 99.3% of site waste was recycled, aligning with the target of offsetting carbon during the project, in line with the Government’s Net Zero agenda.

G F Tomlinson provided £25,315,802 of Total Social Value opportunities for the local community, which was calculated using social impact software, Loop. This included organised site visits, regular newsletters and career talks with students from nearby schools. 228 hours of work experience placements, 948 apprentice hours and 723 local student engagements were provided.

Adrian Grocock, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: "It's been an honour to turn Lincoln College Group’s vision into a reality, providing a world-class training facility for young people going into the aerospace industry.

"We worked closely with the client using the latest technology and specialist advice to ensure the seamless construction of the new campus building and the installation of the large commercial aircraft for educational purposes - consulting with third party experts to manage the transportation and stabilisation of the aircraft to its final fixed position."