Manchester Airport transformation to leave a lasting legacy

More than a dozen businesses involved in the £1bn transformation of Manchester Airport have signed a pledge to recruit apprentices to work on the project.

A target of 150 apprenticeships has been written into principal contractor Laing O’Rourke’s legacy agreement on the scheme – designed to ensure it leaves a lasting positive impact on local people and the economy.

So far 34 apprentices are working on the project, all from the Greater Manchester area.

In addition, 69% of the entire workforce on the project live within a 35-mile radius of the site, and 76% of subcontractors working on the transformation are based within a 35-mile radius.

Work on the scheme will ramp up over the summer period, with more suppliers winning work on the project.

A special apprenticeships event has been staged, aimed to ensure that new businesses joining the team are aware of the benefits apprenticeships can bring to their business, their importance on this particular project, and to offer support and guidance on how they can recruit apprentices.

Representatives from Trafford College Group were on hand to provide their expertise and a group discussion was held to consider what the opportunities are, and the potential barriers employers may face when recruiting apprentices.

Attendees were also given details of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s shared apprenticeship scheme.

Manchester Airport chief executive Andrew Cowan said: “As well as producing an airport that our passengers and partners can be proud of, it’s hugely important to us that our transformation programme creates lasting benefits to all of our region.

“As work continues at pace on the scheme, it’s great to see so many of our contractors signing up to our apprenticeship commitment.

“I look forward to seeing apprentices from a diverse range of backgrounds working on site in the weeks and months ahead.”

Laing O’Rourke project director Bryan Glass said: “We’re wholly committed to this project having a lasting legacy in the local area.

“We’ve set ourselves ambitious targets and have made a positive start so far.

“Today has been about building on that and working with our supply chain to ensure they have the support and guidance they need to deliver apprenticeships through their work on their programme.”

He added: “The pledge is symbolic of that commitment, but we are also working with our supply chain to create formal legacy agreements like the one we ourselves have with Manchester Airports Group.”

The apprenticeship commitment comes on the back of news that Manchester Airport is holding a special event to encourage job seekers from across Greater Manchester to access more than 600 roles that are currently available on its site.

Job seekers from across the region are being invited to attend a special event on Thursday, April 26, at Lancashire County Cricket Club’s The Point complex from 10am to 4pm, to learn more about the roles. Visit www.manchesterairport.co.uk/jobsfair to register.

As well as roles with Manchester Airport other employers recruiting include Swissport, Boots, HMSHost, Thomas Cook Airlines and Jet2.com.

Jobs available include cabin crew, pilots, retail assistants, security officers, drivers and customer service agents.