Alberto Martin, Chief Executive of London Luton Airport (LLA), has joined the National Literacy Trust’s Business for Literacy Council, reinforcing the airport’s commitment to supporting the development of literacy skills for young people.

Established in 2023, the National Literacy Trust’s Business for Literacy Council brings together senior business leaders who are personally, and through their organisations, committed to making an impact on literacy. 

Alberto Martin’s appointment to the Business for Literacy Council underlines the growing ties between LLA and the National Literacy Trust, a charity that has, for over 30 years, been empowering children, young people and adults in schools and communities across the UK with the literacy skills they need to succeed. In January 2025, the National Literacy Trust was named as one of the airport’s two new charity partners, along with Tokko Youth Hub, a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people based in Luton.

The last 12 months have also seen the continued development of LLA’s Classroom to Careers* programme which provides support to local schools and community groups through tailored learning opportunities including skills and environmental workshops. Last year, in partnership with not-for-profit social enterprise Skills Builder, and supported by volunteers from across the airport, LLA delivered skills workshops to 400 students from 11 local schools through the programme.  

Alberto Martin, Chief Executive Officer at London Luton Airport, said: “As one of the major employers in Bedfordshire, London Luton Airport is committed to playing a leading role in removing educational barriers and closing the literacy gap for local young people. Our Classroom to Careers programme aims to reach 2,000 young people over three years, providing skills development and education initiatives aligned to Luton 2040 vision of a healthy, fair, and sustainable town, where everyone can thrive and no one has to live in poverty. I'm excited to join the Business for Literacy Council and for the opportunities this will present. From gaining the perspectives of fellow board members to collaborating on critical literacy strategies that can support national educational objectives, this commitment will support LLA’s focus on impactful and engaging skills development and education initiatives for young people.”

Matthew Wilkley, Director of Development at the National Literacy Trust, said: “Members of our Business for Literacy Council play a vital role in driving much-needed change to tackle the UK’s literacy gap. At a time when only 1 in 3 children and young people tell us they enjoy reading**, Alberto’s and London Luton Airport’s commitment to supporting the development of literacy skills of young people in Bedfordshire will have a tangible and long-lasting impact.”  

LLA’s 2025 education and skills development highlights: 

• January 2025: LLA launches a three-year charity partnership with the National Literacy Trust and Tokko Youth Hub, a charity dedicated to supporting children and young people based in Luton. Both partnerships aim to provide skills and development opportunities and learning interventions throughout students’ school journeys
• April 2025: LLA signs the National Literacy Trust’s pioneering Vision for Literacy Business Pledge that provides a framework for businesses to play a leading role in improving literacy levels in the UK, by empowering children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the literacy skills they need to thrive
• June 2025: LLA joins the Luton Anchors’ Framework, strengthening civic collaboration and bringing together anchor institutions to use collective influence and resource to increase local wealth and wellbeing
• September 2025: LLA joins the Aviation Industry Skills Board (AISB), an independent, employer-led body dedicated to driving skills development in the sector
• October 2025: LLA is awarded a £90,000 grant via the Department for Transport (DfT) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Reach for the Sky challenge fund to continue to evolve its Classroom to Careers programme
• December 2025: LLA contributes to the National Literacy 's Future of Literacy Report, shedding light on the vitally important literacy skills young people will need to thrive in modern, digital-first workplaces

-Ends- 

Notes to Editors

*The Classroom to Careers programme, launched in 2024, marks an exciting chapter for LLA’s skills and education roll out in the community. Collaborating with internal HR and Security teams, and working closely with Luton Council’s Children, Families and Education team to identify local schools and colleges, Classroom to Careers outlines a central roadmap with tailored interventions to support young people. The initiative offers practical skills and employment pathways and seeks to inspire the next generation of aviation talent.

** https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/children-and-young-peoples-reading-in-2025/

About London Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (LLA) is one of the UK’s busiest airports, operated by a consortium, of which the majority shareholder is AENA, the world’s largest airport operator, and InfraBridge, a leading infrastructure investment manager. Airlines include Jet2, easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Tui, FlyOne, Sun Express and El Al.

The airport is owned for community benefit by Luton Rising, a company wholly-owned by Luton Council, which has invested more than £500m in front-line, voluntary and charitable services since 1998.

The Luton Airport Express allows passengers to travel from central London to the LLA terminal in around 30 minutes. The service runs from St Pancras International to Luton Airport Parkway station and connects seamlessly with the DART, an electrically powered people mover that connects to the airport terminal in less than four minutes.

In 2024, LLA was named European Airport of the Year (10-25 million passengers) by ACI EUROPE, and in 2025 LLA received the highest possible rating of 'Very Good' in the annual Airport Accessibility report published by the CAA, assessing assisted travel service performance.

In 2023, LLA also achieved Level 4 of the globally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme, demonstrating that it is ‘transforming its operations to achieve carbon reductions in line with global climate goals’. With a maximum score of 100 and a five-star rating, LLA has been ranked as a sector leader for four consecutive years in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) benchmark of sustainability governance management and performance of major infrastructure assets worldwide.

LLA continues to be a major employer and a key economic driver in Bedfordshire — supporting 28,000 jobs and contributing £830 million per year to the local economy. 

Further information on London Luton Airport can be found here: https://www.london-luton.co.uk/ 

About the National Literacy Trust 
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that empowers children, young people and adults with the literacy skills they need to succeed. Reading, writing, speaking and listening skills give you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. For over 30 years the National Literacy Trust has continued to support schools, families and communities on a local and national level to help people change their stories.

literacytrust.org.uk
 

London Luton Airport Press Office
T: 01582 395333
E: pressoffice@ltn.aero

URL: https://mediahub.london-luton.co.uk/news/27022026/lla-ceo-joins-business-for-literacy-council