Pure Innovations and Manchester Airport celebrate decade-long partnership

Nine young people with special educational needs and disabilities have become the latest to secure paid roles through a partnership between Manchester Airport and Stockport disability charity, Pure Innovations.

Pure Innovations’ Supported Internships programme at Manchester Airport launched in 2015 and give participants the opportunity to pursue a 10-month internship with Manchester Airports Group or one of its partners operating on the airport site. Internships are a structured, work-based study programme for 16- to 24-year-olds with special educational needs and disabilities, aiming to provide the opportunity for young people to achieve sustained, paid employment by equipping them with the skills and confidence they need for work.

Through a decade-long relationship, the programme has supported more than 60 interns into paid employment after their internship completes, and 82% or Pure graduates remain in the roles 12 months later.

Interns gain first-hand workplace experience between 9am and 1pm from Monday to Thursday, with Manchester Airports Group (MAG) or a participating airport partner, such as Bidvest Noonan, Crowne Plaza, GXO, Greggs or ABM. They also spend six additional hours per week in classroom sessions delivered by Manchester College mentors.

Among the latest graduates from the programme was 20-year-old Jawariah Suleman from Stockport. She completed a placement at Greggs in Terminal 1 of Manchester Airport and has now secured a paid role with the bakery chain, after impressing managers with her attitude and commitment to great customer service. Jawariah said:

“It has been absolutely amazing. I have learned all about customer service, how to handle money, and have built up my skills and my confidence. The biggest lesson for me was to use my own initiative to solve problems. I’m really pleased to now have a paid job.”

Liam O’Brien – Jawariah’s manager at Greggs – added:

“Jawariah never stops smiling, she works hard and is always happy to take on new responsibilities. She has fit into the team well, brings a lot of enthusiasm and we’re delighted to have been able to offer her paid employment following her supported internship.”

Marcella M’Rabety, Head of Social Sustainability at Manchester Airports Group, commented:

“We’re proud of our role in serving the people of Greater Manchester, not just as their gateway to the world but also as a driver of regional prosperity and as one of the city region’s largest employers. That’s why we’ve committed to a long-term partnership with Pure Innovations to help ensure a career at the airport is open to all – including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

“I’d like to congratulate the young people graduating this summer on the completion of their internships and on securing paid employment with ourselves or our airport partners, which is testament to the energy and enthusiasm they brought to their internships.” 

Emma Roberts Lowe, Pure innovations’ Senior Employment Officer, added:

“Our interns are so driven, so enthusiastic and so passionate that they make my job easy. I’m so proud of their efforts and the progress they’ve made in the last nine months, and I wish them all the best in their future careers.”