A group of 20 jobseekers became the first cohort to qualify from Manchester Airport’s new Airport Academy, run in partnership with Trafford & Stockport College Group.
The scheme offers an immersive two-week introduction to working in the aviation industry. It is designed for those who are long-term unemployed, do not have qualifications or have faced challenges getting into stable full-time work.
Prospective employees get the chance to explore the airport through the eyes of a colleague and take part in exercises based on customer service scenarios.
At the conclusion of the programme, candidates take part in workshops teaching them CV writing and interview skills, before conducting a mock interview with representatives from Manchester Airports Group (MAG) and other employers based on site.
After graduating, the Airport Academy team supports candidates with applying for roles on the airport site – with many going on to secure permanent employment.
Previous Airport Academy courses have been tailored to roles where the airport and its partners were looking to recruit, but this is the first course offering a more general grounding to candidates, opening the door to lots of different roles. The Airport Academy team has worked closely with third-party employers based at Manchester Airport to ensure its training is aligned with real recruitment needs. Delivered in collaboration with MAG and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the programme offers free, tailored training for adults who aspire to work at the airport, including accredited aviation and customer service courses.
Marcella M’Rabety, Head of Social Sustainability at Manchester Airport, added:
“The Airport Academy is a key part of our commitment as an organisation to supporting our neighbouring communities and ensuring they share in the benefits of having a major international airport on their doorstep.
“There is such a wide range of career options on offer here, and we’re pleased that this new course, delivered in partnership with Trafford & Stockport College Group, is now providing access to those opportunities for local people who have struggled to find stable full-time employment for a range of reasons.”
Among those taking part was Venus Yarahmady from Stockport. Prior to joining the Airport Academy programme, she had spent 10 years working as a community interpreter on a self-employed basis, but is now looking for a stable full-time job.
Venus said:
“The airport seems like an interesting environment to work in, and I’ve learned a lot of new skills already over the course of the 10-day programme, both in terms of customer service and preparing for interview when applying for roles. It has really helped me increase my confidence.”
Mock interviews were conducted by recruitment teams from airport partners, including special assistance provider ABM, which manages the services offered to passengers with restricted mobility.
David MacInnes, a Feedback Coordinator with ABM, said:
“This is a really positive programme to be a part of. One of the first things that struck me was the enthusiasm of the group – they’re all really keen to work here. The calibre of the candidates on the programme is really high, they’re raring to go and the fact they’ve had some exposure to the airport already means we know they can start contributing right away to providing a great service to our customers.”
The Airport Academy was set up in 2012, initially to give existing airport colleagues an opportunity to take qualifications that would help them in their work – but the partnership has now grown to encompass a range of tailored programmes designed to help get people into careers at the airport, and has supported almost 2,000 candidates into paid work.
Gareth Burrow, Group Head Employment & Skills at Trafford & Stockport College Group, oversees the programme; he said:
“It is great to see so many local residents benefiting from the invaluable training and careers advice that this programme offers, and we wish them every success in securing roles at Manchester Airport. Participants in our programme benefit from guest speaker sessions with airport employers, a dedicated job-matching service, and mock interviews with feedback from airport employers—equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the sector.”
Referrals to the programme are made through Jobcentre Plus locations in communities near the airport, but jobseekers can self-refer, too.
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