Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Heathrow breaks annual apprenticeship record

Aerospace

Heathrow breaks annual apprenticeship record

Heathrow has broken its annual apprenticeship record with nearly 1,100 apprentices having started their career journeys at the airport last year.

Above: Heathrow Apprentices, John Holland Kaye, Lord Blunkett and Paula Stannett at the Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy.
Courtesy Heathrow Airport

Following a record 2019, employers across Team Heathrow – including Dixons, Bradford Swissport, Omniserv, Travelex, Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty and World Duty Free – have kicked off the next decade by pledging to recruit over 400 more apprentices in 2020. Through the Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy, all are working towards the target of delivering a further 10,000 new apprenticeships by 2030. As one of the biggest employers in the community, providing thousands of local people with careers not just jobs, Heathrow will directly recruit 20% of the new apprentices in 2020, providing new opportunities in technical areas including legal and airspace.

Advertisement
ODU RT

These latest commitments come as the airport launches a new campaign to inspire employers, colleagues and local councils to ‘Think Again’ about apprenticeships. The new campaign from the Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy, aims to tackle the stereotypes and common misconceptions about apprenticeships, such as only being available to school leavers or the lack of long-term skilled career opportunities. Instead it will highlight the diverse range of apprenticeship opportunities at Heathrow and how they play a pivotal role at Heathrow. ‘Think Again’ will also showcase the bespoke opportunities for local people to make positive and lasting changes to their lives by finding a career and not just a job at Britain’s biggest front door.

From opportunities in digital marketing with Heathrow, construction with Balfour Beatty or customer service with World Duty Free, apprenticeships with the Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy put local people at the forefront of delivering a world class airport experience.

Rhea, a former World Duty Free apprentice said: “People think apprenticeships don’t lead to good recognised qualifications or they’re for school leavers only but this isn’t the case as apprenticeships are available to people of all ages.”

Advertisement
Leonardo RT

Rhea, from Buckinghamshire, was headhunted for the role of Customer Service Leader with World Duty Free (WDF) and has now been with WDF for over 14 years and swiftly developed the position of Store Manager. After returning from her second Maternity Leave, Rhea was approached by her line manager to do the level 5 HR Apprenticeship, she knew this was the opportunity she has been waiting for. Whilst on the course, Rhea was diagnosed with a form of arthritis and had to manage her stress levels and balance her workload. Rhea is now confident managing a team of 150 and influence effective changes within the business.

Heathrow’s Chief Executive, John Holland-Kaye, said: “Keeping the UK’s hub airport running efficiently takes a herculean effort every day and apprentices are mission-critical. That’s why we have already created 5,000 opportunities in the past decade and as we grow over the one, we’ll need even more support from talented people. With the creation of 10,000 opportunities by 2030, we will continue to invest in upskilling local people and challenge our partners to think further about what makes a good apprentice who one day, could be doing my job.”

To support businesses to take on Apprentices, Heathrow will be hosting the Apprenticeships and Careers Show, replacing the Jobs and Careers Fair and help people from our local communities find sustainable employment and Apprenticeships within Team Heathrow.

 

Advertisement
Cranfield University
ANA Holdings finalises order for 27 A321neo and A321XLR aircraft

Aerospace

ANA Holdings finalises order for 27 A321neo and A321XLR aircraft

16 June 2025

ANA Holdings (ANAHD) has finalised an agreement by signing a firm order with Airbus for 24 single-aisle A321neo and three A321XLR.

GA-ASI showcases unmanned systems at Paris Air Show

Aerospace Defence

GA-ASI showcases unmanned systems at Paris Air Show

16 June 2025

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) returns to Paris in 2025 with a variety of new products and concepts highlighting the future of uncrewed airpower.

Riyadh Air orders 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft

Aerospace

Riyadh Air orders 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft

16 June 2025

Riyadh Air has placed a firm order for 25 A350-1000 aircraft. The agreement, which can potentially increase to 50 A350-1000 was signed at the Paris Air Show, with the ceremony attended by H.E Yasir Al-Rumayyan, The Governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus and Tony Douglas, CEO of ...

GKN Aerospace joins ICEFlight

Aerospace

GKN Aerospace joins ICEFlight

16 June 2025

GKN Aerospace recently joined the collaborative ICEFlight (Innovative Cryogenic Electric Flight) project, which is led by Airbus, through its Tech Hub in the Netherlands and together with its innovation arm Airbus UpNext under the Dutch public-private programme Luchtvaart in Transitie (LiT).

Advertisement
Leonardo RT
Value of aerospace, defence, security and space to UK up 64% in 10 years

Aerospace Defence Security Space

Value of aerospace, defence, security and space to UK up 64% in 10 years

16 June 2025

The UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors added £42.2 billion to the UK economy in 2024, according to new data from ADS, equating to a 64% increase over the last decade.

AMETEK GSP expands hermetic headers and connectors manufacturing

Aerospace

AMETEK GSP expands hermetic headers and connectors manufacturing

16 June 2025

AMETEK Glasseal Products (GSP) has expanded its manufacturing capabilities in Reynosa, Mexico and Penang, Malaysia.

Advertisement
ODU RT