Just under 50 successful businesses have graduated from Fareham Innovation Centre over the past 10 years – and a leading modular flight school in southern England is one of them. Euro Flight Training (EFT) landed here in 2015, the year the purpose-built centre opened its doors to aviation, advanced engineering, marine and aerospace companies needing flexible workspace and strategic business support to expand.

Fast-forward to now, EFT retains a training presence on site, with two state-of-the-art simulators certified by the Civil Aviation Authority. The simulators help prepare students on their skills journey to be airline-ready, with a range of scenarios in the cockpits, from basic flying skills to advanced instrument procedures.

Run by owner and director Valentino Kadirzade, EFT focuses on modular commercial pilot training – a passenger plane flying you to the Mediterranean may well be piloted by a former EFT student, with more than 350 passing through the flight school with flying colours.

Whilst the operational side of EFT graduated from Fareham Innovation Centre nearly two years ago due to expansion, the business has not flown far – just a few hundred metres away at adjacent Solent Airport Daedalus.

In a sign of the continued economic growth taking place within the Daedalus Solent Enterprise Zone, EFT has a fleet of nine aircraft at hangers five and six – instrumentation on many of the planes are replicated in the simulators.Taking off from the hardstanding runway, students, under the watchful eyes of 12 instructors, are put through their paces in the skies, from basic to advanced levels, including for private and commercial pilot courses.

Valentino said: “Many of our students go on to enjoy successful careers with a wide range of leading airlines and aviation companies. We’re dedicated to providing the best possible training to prepare them for these opportunities.”

He added: “We owe part of EFT’s growth to Fareham Innovation Centre, which has provided us with flexible workspace over the years, and it was a proud moment for all of us when we became one of 49 resident occupiers over the past 10 years to graduate from the centre due to expansion.

“The airport is ideal for us and we are among a range of aviation-based businesses on site, with jobs being created.

“There’s also the added convenience of having the two simulators close by at Fareham Innovation Centre – students can park for free onsite and the building has the professional wow factor.”

EFT’s Hanger 6 also has significance – it was there, in 2015, that Fareham Borough Council as the new landlord cut the ribbon to declare the runway open; the airport, before it was bought off the government for a symbolic £1, was in a state of disrepair and faced an uncertain future before being rescued. With 10 staff, EFT continues its commercial ascent with its training and airside maintenance divisions.

“I cannot tell you how accommodating Fareham Innovation Centre has been,” said Valentino.

“They have been there for us for 10 years and counting – we cannot thank them enough.”

Fittingly, the conference space has level access to a rooftop terrace which overlooks Solent Airport Daedalus – and the airborne graduate, EFT.

Thinking of renting a space at Fareham Innovation Centre? Click here for availability or contact our Centre Director, Stephen for more information at sbrownlie@oxin.co.uk