Captain Elliott's Flying School

On 8th October, our Upskill Games, Media, and Computing students had the exciting opportunity to welcome Dave Routledge, Director of Captain Elliott’s Flying School, to campus for an inspiring and career-focused session.

Dave, who leads one of the UK’s respected drone training providers, delivers a wide range of drone courses, professional licences, and specialist workshops for young people across the country. During his visit, he introduced our learners to a live client brief, mirroring the kind of real-world projects they will encounter in the creative and digital industries.

Between October half term and Christmas, our students will be working collaboratively to develop professional media content for Captain Elliott’s Flying School. This project offers an outstanding opportunity to:
- Apply their technical and creative skills in a real business context
- Gain valuable industry experience and client communication skills
- Strengthen their CVs and digital portfolios ahead of higher education or employment
- Understand how emerging technologies, such as drones, are shaping careers in media, game design, and computing

This live brief aligns closely with our curriculum intent, ensuring learners develop practical, employable skills that prepare them for the world of work. It also demonstrates our commitment to delivering a high-quality, relevant curriculum enriched by employer partnerships and meaningful industry engagement.

A huge thank you to Dave Routledge for his time, expertise, and continued support in helping our students experience authentic, career-building opportunities.

At Upskill, we’re passionate about connecting education with industry, empowering learners to progress confidently into their next steps.