Heathrow welcomed a record crowd of keen students at this year’s Jobs and Careers Fair

LONDON, UK, 2019-Mar-08 — /Travel PR News/ — Thousands of students from Slough, Spelthorne, Ealing, Hounslow, Hillingdon and – for the first time – the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, explored how they can become a pilot, a chef, an engineer and fire fighter all at Heathrow during the airport’s annual careers fair.

It has now been caculated that in total, over 5,600 young people, parents and teachers sought career advice from 81 companies from across the airport including British Airways, Heathrow Fire and Rescue, MACE and EAT at the Sofitel Heathrow last week.

Heathrow and its partner companies are looking for young local talent to fill both current and future career opportunities at the airport, including 10,000 apprenticeships with the airport’s expansion. Visitors invited from boroughs neighbouring the airport, took the opportunity to explore careers, internships, apprenticeships, graduate schemes and entry-level roles in sectors such as aviation, hospitality and education.

The fair comes after Heathrow launched Britain’s first airport-owned Shared Apprentice Scheme in construction to help build a stronger base of UK skills. Responding to the recommendations made by the airport’s independent Skills Taskforce, Heathrow also committed to provide 10,000 quality work experience days by 2030 and 1,200 work placement days to local T-level students in construction and digital careers from September 2020.

Heathrow People Director – Expansion, Becky Ivers, said:

“It was wonderful to welcome a record crowd of keen students at this year’s Jobs and Careers Fair. As our plans for airport expansion take shape, we need to develop the skills that will be required to deliver this major UK project. Our annual Fair presents a great opportunity to kick that off and helps to ensure the benefits of expansion will be shared right across the region. We look forward to welcoming many of the students back to the airport in the years to come.”

As one of the largest single-site employers in the UK, Heathrow has a unique role to play in the economic development in West London and the Thames Valley, as well as all of the UK. Over 76,500 people are directly employed at over 400 companies in Heathrow alone.

Even with a wealth of current opportunities, youth unemployment remains an issue in surrounding boroughs. With expansion the number and range of jobs created will have the potential to end youth unemployment in the five local boroughs entirely.

NOTES TO EDITOR:

To learn more about how Heathrow is supporting the economic prosperity of communities around the airport, please see https://your.heathrow.com/heathrow-jobs-and-careers-fair/

SUCCESS STORIES

Dominika Socha, Cabin Crew, British Airways
Dominika attended the Heathrow Jobs & Careers Fair in 2015, while studying Airline and Airport Management at the University of West London.

Dominika lives in Ealing and attended the fair in the hope of finding full-time employment while completing her 3 year management degree. The British Airways recruitment team were onsite promoting employment opportunities at the airline.  Dominika met a British Airways apprentice on the day and gained some insight into the opportunities available at the airline and the application process.

After applying online immediately for a position as Cabin crew, Dominika was invited for an assessment day and interviews.  She was delighted to be offered the role and, following intensive training, she is now a member of the British Airways flying crew.

“I have always had the dream to build a career in aviation.  I am lucky to be able to combine both my studies and full time employment together.  I sacrifice a lot, but the hard work pays off and British Airways is very supportive.  I am proud to wear my uniform and play an important role within the team.

“I get to travel all over the world, crossing multiple time zones combining both short and long-haul flights.  I continue to be focused and driven to continue building my career and one day hope to work in the management office for BA at Terminal 5, inspiring others to take the same route.”

John Flett, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Aviation at the University of West London explains, “The University of West London’s London College of Hospitality and Tourism is supportive of our students undertaking work experience within the chosen field of study.”

“Dominika, and the other students working within the aviation sector, share real-world examples in the lecture theatre, supporting the academic concepts and enhancing the learning experience. It is also of individual benefit as Dominika has proven by achieving one of only 5 PM Trust Scholarships awarded within the College based partly on her academic achievement.”

Sabrina, Passenger Agent, OmniServ
OmniServ provides a comprehensive range of passenger care and security services to the world’s leading airlines and airports including: Passenger Services Person, Ambassador Hosts, Retail Hosts, Security, Aircraft Services and Cleaning.

Amy Parkin from the HR team at OmniServ shares her experience:
“The Heathrow Jobs & Careers Fair is an ideal platform to promote our company and to source ideal candidates for our various areas of operation. From Passenger Service Agents or Ambassadors to Airport Duty Managers, we have found the fair attracts a good calibre of candidate, people who are genuinely interested in pursuing a career within the Airport environment.

“Sabrina attended the fair in 2014 and expressed an interest in joining OmniServ and particularly our Passengers with reduced mobility operation (PRM) and became employed as an agent.

Sabrina has grown from strength to strength within the team and during her employment she has quickly progressed to the role of Supervisor.

“We will be returning to the fair next year which is scheduled just in time for our recruitment drive, in order to capture another round of candidates to assess for our seasonal busy period.”

Contact:

Press Office on 0208 745 7224

Source: Heathrow Airport

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