300th apprentice to have worked on Manchester Airport transformation secures permanent role

300 apprentices have now been employed as a result of the historic £1.3 billion transformation of Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport.

The investment has delivered a state-of-the-art terminal that has set the UK’s global gateway in the North up to further increase its impact on the regional and national economy.

As well as delivering wide-ranging benefits to passengers, those working at the airport and businesses using it to trade globally, the transformation will leave a significant social and economic legacy. That includes through the jobs it has created, especially for young people in the North who have taken their first step on the career ladder and gone on to work on other major projects across the region.

The announcement of meeting the 300-apprentices milestone comes alongside a visit to the Manchester Airport by Aviation Minister, Keir Mather. He checked out the hub’s new Terminal 2 and met apprentices at different stages of their training, all of whom working on the project at some point.

Chloe O’Neill became the 300^th person to complete an apprenticeship through the programme and land a permanent job, marking a major milestone in terms of making sure the benefits of MAG’s investment are felt for years to come.

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:

 “Our brand-new, £1.3bn Terminal 2 is a world-leading piece of infrastructure that means we can proudly connect the people of the North to a route network of more than 200 destinations from a setting that rivals any airport terminal in Europe and beyond.

“But throughout its construction we’ve prioritised making sure that the impact of our investment goes far beyond elevating people’s experiences right here at the airport and provides real, tangible benefits for people in the region.

“A key part of that is providing real, sustainable work and training opportunities to young people through apprenticeships. When you speak directly to some of the apprentices who have worked on our transformation, it really brings home how MAG’s investment in infrastructure here in the North has lasting impact on individuals and the economy as a whole.”

Over the course of the transformation programme apprentices have been employed directly through the airport and through contractors engaged in the programme. Over 8,000 apprenticeship weeks have been delivered.

The airport has also provided 714 work experience days, 12 undergraduate placements and opened its AeroZone education facility, providing opportunities for over 13,000 students.

Former MAG apprentice Chloe O’Neill said:

“My apprenticeship was an amazing experience and I wouldn’t be here, working as a qualified quantity surveyor without it

“Having the chance to do work on a historic billion-pound investment programme isn’t an opportunity I’d have had through other routes and it just shows the value and benefit of apprenticeships like this.

“It was a real honour to think that my work has helped build something as brilliant as Terminal 2.”