Manchester Airport transformation program to create 150 apprenticeships

More than a dozen businesses involved in the £1bn (US$1.4bn) transformation of Manchester Airport in the UK have signed a pledge to recruit apprentices to work on the project.

The Legacy Agreement, held with principal contractor Laing O’Rourke, was amended so that a total of 150 apprenticeships would be generated by the program.

There are currently 34 apprentices working on the project, all of whom are from the Greater Manchester area. In addition, 69% of the project workforce 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 and more suppliers winning work on the project. A special apprenticeships event has been staged and aimed to ensure that new businesses joining the team are aware of the benefits apprenticeships can bring to their business and to offer support and guidance on how they can recruit apprentices.

Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, 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 program 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.”

Bryan Glass, project director, Laing O’Rourke, 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 the program.”

The apprenticeship commitment comes on the back of news that Manchester Airport is holding a special event to encourage jobseekers from across Greater Manchester to access more than 600 roles that are currently available on-site. Jobseekers from across the region are being invited to attend a special event on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at Lancashire County Cricket Club’s ‘The Point’ complex from 10:00am to 4:00pm, to learn more about the roles.