Staff Spotlight – Imogen Renaud
Role – Trainee Support Officer (Gloucester)
It’s not only our team of skilled instructors who play a key role in helping our trainees succeed, but also the dedicated staff behind the scenes who are crucial in guiding them to where they need to be.
Among them is Imogen Renaud, our Trainee Support Officer at Skyborne.
Imogen’s role is incredibly important to the success of our trainees, as she provides invaluable support throughout their flight training journey.
We recently caught up with Imogen to find out more about her role and the positive impact she has on the next generation of airline pilots.
Can you tell us about your role as a Trainee Support Officer and what it involves?
“As the Trainee Support Officer, my role revolves around looking out for our trainees and their welfare during every stage of their training journey with us. Whether that is when they are in ground school, out in Vero Beach, Florida or back in the UK for their Multi-Engine flying phase, I’m there to support throughout.
One of the nicest parts of the role is getting to know the trainees, building relationships and seeing them progress through their training.”
What does a typical day look like for you?
“What I love about my job role is that there is no typical day. I can start off a day with answering emails, booking social events and later hosting a check in call for our trainees out in Florida. Another day, I can be hosting an early morning pancake treat for trainees, reviewing feedback and having meetings with different departments.”
Why is trainee wellbeing such an important part of flight training?
“Trainee wellbeing is so important because although you are starting this new adventure with us here at Skyborne, that doesn’t mean life outside of your training stops. You might need some extra support if you’re facing challenges that affect yourself, your friends or your family.
At Skyborne, we provide additional mental health support for our trainees through an organisation called Red Umbrella, a third-party provider offering support through councillors and ‘peer pilots’. These are qualified airline pilots trained to provide mental health support and guidance to those who may need it.”
What do you enjoy most about working with trainee pilots?
“I enjoy learning about everyone’s different backgrounds before joining us.
We have trainees from lots of different backgrounds, whether it is someone who has come from a career in the police, had previous experience in aviation, or just joined us fresh out of A Levels. I love hearing about everyone’s different journeys, which led them to join us here at Skyborne.”
What do trainees often find most challenging about flight training, and how do you help them overcome those challenges?
“Flight training can be very challenging. All trainees have moments in ground school especially where they can get a bit overwhelmed, which is completely normal. I like to be quite visible to our trainees and walk around so I can check in on them and see how they are getting on. I host social events such as pancake mornings and pub quizzes, which I encourage trainees to attend as it is a nice, fun break for them to step away from studying for just a couple of hours.
We also host weekly sport activities that trainees can join, which gets them out and moving and gives their brain a break.”
What advice would you give to someone starting flight training?
“My advice would be to enjoy the experience and remind yourself why you are doing it.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to understand everything right away, as some things may take longer.
Starting flight training is a huge achievement as it is, and although it is demanding, it is also very exciting!”
What do you think makes the trainee community at Skyborne unique?
“What makes our trainee community unique is how well everyone mixes, both between the different cohorts and with staff. Although trainees start their journey within their own class, they get to know people at all different stages of flight training. There’s also a really good relationship between staff and trainees. There is mutual respect and professionalism, but it’s still friendly and fun, and staff genuinely want to help the trainees succeed.”
What skills are most important in your role?
“I think communication is an important skill in my role because you are constantly speaking to lots of different people every day, and everyone communicates differently. Being approachable and having empathy are also crucial, as sometimes a trainee might just need to someone to listen to them, whether it is a personal matter or a training concern. I’d also say organisation and adaptability are very important. Things can change quite quickly, so I need to be able to prioritise what’s important while keeping on top of everything else.
Overall, I believe it’s about being someone trainees feel comfortable approaching and trusting to help them.”
At Skyborne, trainee wellbeing is central to the training experience. Our team is here to offer guidance and support, helping every trainee navigate the challenges of flight training and help them achieve their dream of becoming an airline pilot.
To find out more about our Integrated ATPL programme, click the link here.
