Manchester Airport seeks to recruit hundreds of staff at jobs fair

Manchester Airport recruitment event

Hundreds of airport roles are on offer at a Wythenshawe jobs fair involving more than a dozen employers based at Manchester Airport.

There are hundreds of opportunities in security roles, alone, after the airport has suffered from long delays for passengers navigating the check-in and security process.

This is due to staff either leaving their roles or being let go during the pandemic when air travel almost ground to a halt.

Airport managing director, Karen Smart stepped down in April following huge delays, causing passengers to miss flights.

The jobs fair, at Wythenshawe Forum, on May 24, has been arranged by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), in partnership with Manchester City Council, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Manchester Airport Academy.

Apart from airport security jobs, MAG is also looking to recruit for a range of other posts including engineers, traffic marshals and hospitality chefs.

On-site partners, meanwhile, will be looking to fill roles in areas such as check-in, baggage handling, retail and food and beverage.

Aviation service providers due to be in attendance include Mitie, dNata, Stobart Aviation, ICTS Security and Menzies Aviation.

Retailers and eateries with Manchester Airport locations will have a presence at the jobs fair, too, including Costa Coffee, Pret a Manger, Greggs, Barburrito, WHSmith, JD Sports, World Duty Free, Travelex and airport restaurant operator SSP.

Guests at the jobs fair will also be able to speak to a representative from the Airport Academy, a walk-in facility run in partnership with Trafford College. The Airport Academy helps those who have been unemployed back into work, directly for the airport or for an on-site partner.

It provides free tailored training programmes and CV-writing workshops to enable jobseekers to gain relevant skills and secure employment. Smart Works, a charity which supports women into new careers, will also be represented.

Ian Costigan, interim managing director of Manchester Airport, said: “The last two years have been challenging for us but the outlook for this summer is much more positive and we are looking forward to helping our guests get away on their well earned breaks once more.

“To do that, we need to bring more people into our operation, and the event at Wythenshawe Forum will give jobseekers in our neighbouring communities an opportunity to find out more about the wealth of career options on their doorstep.

“We are making good progress in our recruitment drive. More than 1,600 people applied for jobs here in April alone and around 200 new starters are expected to join the operation this month, which will allow us to open additional security lanes during peak periods and improve customer service.”

Cllr Gavin White, executive member for employment for Manchester City Council, said: “As Manchester Airport continues to recover strongly from the impacts of the pandemic, there are a wide range of job and career opportunities being created which residents of Wythenshawe and other parts of Manchester are well placed to benefit from.”

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