AffinityFTS

We specialise in delivering tailored aviation services through our long-term strategic relationships with both industry and military partners.

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

Lunchtime looked a little different today.

Being based in such a fantastic and historic location, we stepped outside to catch the King’s Birthday Flypast rehearsal – and it didn’t disappoint.

The formation featured our own Embraer Phenom, followed by the Atlas, Voyager, C-17 and Poseidon, with the Typhoons closing out the display overhead.

A great reminder of the scale and coordination behind it all – and a proud moment seeing aircraft connected to Cranwell right at the heart of it. We look forward to seeing the full flypast take place next weekend in celebration of King Charles III's birthday. 

#KingsBirthdayFlypast #TroopingTheColour

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

We’re proud once again to support the RAF Association and their Outreach campaign, which helps reach RAF veterans, especially those who may be less likely to ask for support themselves. 📞💙

This year, our incredible volunteers, Sheila and Susie who are part of our Mental Health Team, generously gave their time to make meaningful calls and ensure veterans receive the connection and signposting they need.

Here’s what they had to say about their experience:

💬 “It's really lovely speaking to those who have served our country and being able to signpost to help where it's needed.” – Sheila

💬 “Everyone has been lovely and genuinely appreciated the call.” – Susie

A heartfelt thank you to Sheila and Susie for their compassion, dedication and for representing Affinity with such pride. Your support truly makes a difference.

#Aviation #RAFAssociation #OutreachCampaign #RAFCommunity #VeteransSupport

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

Throwback to where it all began!

From a bare steel structure to a bright, fully operational hangar, here’s the incredible transformation of our hangar at RAF Cranwell.

As we celebrate 10 years of Affinity, we’re looking back at the moments that shaped our journey.

Swipe to see the before and after 👀

 #Anniversary #DecadeOfDelivery #Aviation #BeforeAndAfter #Throwback #Hangar

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

We’re sharing stories from colleagues across Affinity as part of our 10‑year anniversary celebrations. ✨✈️

Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Neil, one of our B1 Licensed Aircraft Engineers at Cranwell, who reflects on his journey since 2016, including the milestone of seeing his son begin his own aviation career with us. Two generations at Affinity!

Read Neil’s full story, along with more reflections from our colleagues, here: https://t.co/4wZGIcfcpE

We’ll be sharing more highlights in the coming weeks.✨

#Aviation #AviationEngineering #AircraftEngineer #AviationCareers #CareerJourneys  #EmployeeStories #CompanyCulture

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

We’re proud to stand behind our colleagues who volunteer and fundraise in their local communities. Each year, our team nominates the causes that matter most to them, and choosing just four is never easy.

This year, we’re honoured to support:

SARDA Wales – Volunteer search‑and‑rescue dog teams supporting emergency services.
Sleaford Town U12s – A grassroots football team helping young players grow and thrive.
NDSSG – Helping individuals with Down’s Syndrome and their families feel supported and included.
GISDA – Supporting vulnerable young people with housing, guidance and care.

We’re honoured to contribute to these amazing organisations and the work they do.💙 Thank you to everyone who nominated a cause this year.

 #CSR #GivingBack #CommunitySupport #SupportingCommunities #Aviation

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

As we mark 10 years of Affinity, our MD, Iain Chalmers, looks beyond the milestone to share the leadership lessons that shaped our journey, from being employee number one to guiding a 200‑strong team.

A thoughtful reflection on clarity, culture, and what truly makes Affinity thrive.

🔗 Read the full article: https://t.co/P5A7REyGHZ

#Affinity #Leadership #ThoughtLeadership #AviationLeadership #CompanyCulture #LeadershipJourney #Affinity10Years #Inspiration #MDInsights

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

Today our Head of HR & Training, Louise Lambert, attended the APPG Apprenticeships Fair in Westminster, where she had the opportunity to speak with Toby Perkins MP, co chair of the APPG for apprenticeships and The Rt Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith, The Minister of Skills about the critical role apprenticeships play in developing the next generation of aviation engineering talent.

At Affinity, we are passionate about expanding opportunities for aspiring aircraft engineers. Louise shared how broadening the scope of the Apprenticeship Levy to include pathways aligned with Part 66 modules could open doors for more people to enter highly specialised engineering careers, helping to address long‑term skills shortages and strengthen the UK’s future aviation capability.

Developing people is central to everything we do, and we remain committed to championing accessible, high‑quality apprenticeships that build capability, support progression, and keep our sector future‑ready.

#Apprenticeships #Aviation #Skills #FutureTalent #Engineering

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

This National Apprenticeship Week, we’re celebrating the impact apprenticeships have in developing skills, nurturing talent, and strengthening our business.

We’re proud to celebrate Kizzie, our Digital Data Analyst, who has achieved a Distinction in her BCS Level 4 Data Analyst Apprenticeship 👏

Throughout her apprenticeship, Kizzie has shown real dedication to developing her skills and has made a positive impact across the business, from supporting process improvements to contributing to analytical tools that enhance reporting capability.

Her hard work, commitment, and enthusiasm truly reflect the value of apprenticeships. Congratulations, Kizzie, a fantastic and well-deserved achievement!

#NAW2026 #NationalApprenticeshipWeek2026 #Apprenticeships #ApprenticeSuccess #TeamAchievement

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

✈️ We’re hiring – Damage Component Asset & Process Lead

We’re looking for an experienced aviation professional to join our Delivery team in a key role managing aircraft component assets, damage recovery, and continuous improvement across engineering, operations, commercial, and finance functions.

💷 Salary: £50,000–£55,000 per annum
📍 Location: RAF Valley, Anglesey (with frequent travel to RAF Cranwell & RAF Barkston Heath)
🕒 Type: Full-time | Permanent

This is a senior, analytical role suited to someone with strong aircraft component lifecycle or asset management experience and a passion for operational excellence.

🌐 View the full job description and apply via our website:
https://t.co/NJVHkOVjYL

By joining Affinity, you’ll have access to:
• Personalised training & development
• Private medical support
• Company pension & life assurance
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• A comprehensive mental wellbeing programme
• Additional employee benefits

At Affinity, our people are at the heart of our success. Join a culture that values learning, collaboration, and doing things the right way.

🔐 BPSS clearance required (UK residency for the past 3 years).

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

✨ We continued our 10‑year celebrations by treating our teams to some delicious lunch! Our colleagues in Lincolnshire and Anglesey enjoyed a loaded‑fries feast, a well‑deserved break for everyone 🍟💛

This was a small way to say thank you for their continued hard work and dedication. Reaching 10 years is an incredible milestone made possible by the dedication, professionalism and teamwork of colleagues across all our sites.

A huge thank you to The Cheesy Pig, who served our Lincolnshire sites, and Wild Street Kitchen, who catered for our Anglesey team, for providing such a tasty meal.

We even had aircraft‑themed menus to mark the occasion! ✈️👀

#Affinity10Years #Aviation #EmployeeRecognition #AircraftTheme

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

As we celebrate 10 years of Affinity, our Business Director, Alex Davison, shares how our values have guided our growth and defined who we are today.

Read her story on our website 👉https://t.co/WUaENEpg0J

Here’s to a decade of impact, and the values leading us into the next chapter.

#Affinity10Years #DecadeOfGrowth #Values #ThoughtLeadership #Leadership #TrainingExcellence #TeamAffinity

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

Yesterday we celebrated 10 years of Affinity with custom cakes inspired by our aircraft across all our sites, the Phenom at Cranwell, Prefect at Barkston, and Texan at Valley. 🎂✈️

It was fantastic to come together and mark this milestone, and we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us. Our teams across Cranwell, Valley and Barkston Heath were joined by our colleagues from Ascent and the MOD, who came along to share the moment. Your support helped make the day truly special.

A special thank you as well to Victoria White Cake Design for creating the incredible cakes that made the celebration even sweeter!🎂

#Affinity10Years #TeamAffinity #Aviation #Aerospace #AircraftMaintenance #EngineeringExcellence #AircraftCake

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

🎉 As we celebrate 10 years of Affinity today, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the journey that’s shaped who we are.

Before our official launch in 2016, years of planning and behind‑the‑scenes work paved the way for a decade of growth, engineering excellence and incredible teamwork.

Over the last 10 years, we’ve expanded our capability, introduced new aircraft, strengthened partnerships, evolved our facilities and continued to innovate, all driven by the fantastic teams across our sites.

“I have been in the lucky - and rare - position of being with Affinity on every day of it's amazing 10-year journey, and have seen the company grow and flourish in that time. We deliver a critical service for our country, and we do that because of the people who are part of the Affinity family. Thank you for everything you have done for these past 10 years, and here's looking forward to the next!" – Iain Chalmers, Affinity MD

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re recognising not just what we’ve delivered, but the people behind every achievement.

We can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with our teams! ✨

Learn more about who we are 👉 https://t.co/5TXl5BU6Ri

#aviation #Affinity10Years #Engineering #AerospaceEngineering #AircraftMaintenance

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

At Affinity, we love celebrating the outstanding achievements of our team through our Excellence Awards 🌟✈️

For December 2025, we’re proud to recognise Vik and Paul for the brilliant impact they’ve made across the business.

Vik has helped bring our safety messages to life in new, engaging ways, creating content that’s driving real awareness and sparking more conversations across our sites. Her creativity and dedication continue to strengthen our safety culture and reflect the values we’re all proud of.

Paul's dedication on a fast‑moving project truly stood out. Faced with a complex task and a tight deadline, Paul took full ownership from the start, planning ahead, staying adaptable, and keeping everyone aligned. Thanks to his drive and teamwork, everything came together smoothly and on time.

Congratulations to both, your hard work is genuinely appreciated!

#Aviation #AviationExcellence #EmployeeRecognition

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

Last night, members of our Leadership Team attended the ADS Annual Dinner 2026, hosted by ADS Group.

The event brought together representatives from across the defence, aerospace, and security industries, offering a valuable opportunity to connect with peers and champion the role Affinity plays within the sector.

As the UK’s trade association for the aerospace, defence, security and space industries, ADS brings together organisations across these vital sectors to support collaboration, innovation and growth. 

Attending events like this helps us stay aligned with wider industry, strengthen relationships, and ensure Affinity remains an active voice within the aviation and defence community.

We're proud to have been part of this important industry gathering. ✈️✨

#Aviation #Aerospace #Defence #AviaitonUK #ADS

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

Doing the 2016 trend… Affinity edition. Pink filter included! 👀✈️ 2016 → 2026.

We kicked off our journey in 2016, the year our first Prefect aircraft arrived at RAF Cranwell, and now we’re celebrating a decade of progress and proud moments.✨

Photography: UK MoD Crown Copyright.

#2016 #2016Trend #2026IsTheNew2016 #Throwback2016 #AffinityTurns10 #Aviation #2016filter

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

Our Managing Director, Iain Chalmers, met Luke Akehurst MP at Westminster yesterday to discuss the future of fast‑jet training, the Defence Investment Plan, and Affinity’s integral role in delivering high‑quality elementary flying training.

"Engagements like this are important because they give us the opportunity to bring real operational context, shaped by the great people who keep us operating safely every day, to our parliamentary representatives." - Iain Chalmers, Affinity MD

The meeting provided an invaluable opportunity to raise the voice of SMEs operating within our sector, ensuring the UK’s defence supply chain remains innovative, responsive and mission‑ready.

#Defence #Aviation #SME #UKParliament #Westminster

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

It's Brew Monday!☕💚

This Monday, we swap Blue for Brew. Checking in with friends, family or colleagues, and having a proper chat, is small but mighty, and it truly matters. Across our sites, our colleagues are pausing and taking a moment to check in with each other over a cuppa and biscuits. 

With Samaritans, #BrewMonday is a reminder that taking time to connect really matters. At Affinity, we’re committed to everyday support for mental health and wellbeing, with trained Mental Health Champions ready to help all year round.

#MentalHealth #WellbeingAtWork #Aviation #AviationEngineering

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

Something big is coming… Affinity is turning 10! �� Stay tuned for celebrations, stories, and surprises as we count down to a decade of excellence!

#AffinityTurns10 #CountdownTo10 #Aviation #AviationEngineering

[AffinityFTS @AffinityFts]

🚨Tonight, 15 January at 17:30 GMT🚨 Our MD, Iain Chalmers, will be hosting a webinar as part of The Air League’s Global Innovation Challenge ✈️❄️

This session will explore how SMEs can lead innovation within the aviation sector, showcasing the Electric Aircraft Pathfinder project as a real example of pioneering sustainable technology. Iain will also share how advanced tools and technology are transforming life for our engineering teams, highlighting the agility and creativity SMEs bring to shaping the future of flight.”

Don't miss out, sign up here 👉https://t.co/h5ibRYrKZ6