Gavin joined APD in June 2008, following som 22 years at Leeds Bradford International Airport, where he worked for Sevrisair (an international Airline Handling Agent) for 10 years before joining Leeds Bradford Airport PLC in 1995 in operations management. His airline handling experience was used extensively to deliver Sevrisair's competency based training. With the Airport Company, he managed an Operations team, with responsibility for the development of the airport's Safety Management System (SMS). This included Audit & Inspection, Ramp/Ground Operations, and document preparation and liaison with the Civil Aviation Authority in respect of licensing, and the delivery of the SMS.
