The Airport Academy, based at Manchester Airport and in partnership with Stockport College, has helped over 100 people get a job during 2013 and almost half of those people are now working at Manchester Airport.
Established in 2010, the partnership between the airport and Stockport College has its base next to the train station at Manchester Airport and offers local unemployed people the opportunity to complete a two week course. Upon completion of the course, successful participants will have a nationally recognised customer services qualification as well as receive help with interview skills and preparing their CVs.
Course participants could also have the opportunity to take up a work placement at Manchester Airport, following which 92% of people who have been on the placement have now found employment at the airport.
Airport Academy Manager Tony Savage said:
“We receive referrals from the local job centres and training providers for suitable candidates to go on the course. We assess their Maths, IT, English and Customer Service skills to enable us to judge their suitability for the training and roles that could be available for them. We try to show people the bigger picture – a customer services role could lead to many other roles at Manchester Airport or elsewhere.
“We do everything we can to help people get back into work, preferably at Manchester Airport, however the skills they learn whilst being here can be transferred to a variety of other jobs. We also, where possible, offer the course participants placements within the airport. In 2013, 40 people took up a work placement opportunity and following that 36 of them are now in full-time or part-time jobs at Manchester Airport.”
Philip Morgan from Stockport entered the Airport Academy training programme in October 2012 after being referred by his local job centre. He had been made redundant earlier in the year. Philip said:
“After I completed the two week training course at the Airport Academy, which included covering mock interviews, CV preparation and other employability skills, I was offered a work placement within motor transport at Manchester Airport.
“I assisted customers with luggage and helped to ensure they were in the right place at the right time so that they had a great customer experience. The placement gave me valuable hands on customer experience as well as knowledge of the airport site and within a few weeks, I applied for a Customer Service Assistant role that had become available in World Duty Free (now Biza).
“I was successful in my application and have been in full-time employment since February 2013. If I hadn’t been given the opportunity to attend the Airport Academy, I’d probably still be unemployed. If you’re willing to put the effort in, work hard and show you can be an asset to an employer you’ll receive great support and help finding work from the Airport Academy in return. I’m very grateful for everything the Airport Academy has done to help me and I’m really enjoying my job in Biza.”
Charlotte Wroe from Newall Green, Wythenshawe entered the programme in November 2013, she said:
“I am grateful for the opportunity that the Academy gave me as it enabled me to access vacancies within the airport which has helped me to gain a place on the Swissport Passenger Service training programme. I’m currently working towards employment as a Passenger Service Agent working on the check in desks”.
Up to 18 people can be on the two week course at any one time, the course is a free service for participants who must be able to commit to 100% attendance 9.30am-4.30pm Monday – Friday for the duration of the course.
On average, 76% of people who complete the course will secure a job either within the airport or elsewhere. For more information visit: www.airportacademy.co.uk