BAA announce 200,000 investment in new Stansted Airport employment and skills academy

BAA announce 200,000 investment in new Stansted Airport employment and skills academy in partnership with unionlearn

Details of a new Stansted Airport Employment and Skills Academy were today unveiled at the annual Employment Forum to gathered representatives of airport employers, employee representatives, local councils and educational providers.

The project, in which BAA Stansted will invest 200,000 across the next four years, brings about a unique partnership between Urban Futures and unionlearn, the TUCís learning and skills organisation, to provide a centralised recruitment function for employers and employees at Stansted and a training centre dedicated solely to helping workers develop skills for future career progression.

BAA will also manage its highly successful Airport Skills Training Programme from the academy ñ a programme hailed by the then Chancellor Gordon Brown as ëbest practiceí in last yearís budget statement, and one that aims to equip the unemployed with basic skills training to help them obtain employment at the airport.

ìWith around 11,600 people currently working at Stansted Airport we are the largest single site employer in the East of England,î said Murray Thomas, Human Resources Director, BAA Stansted.

ìStansted is a key facilitator for economic growth in the region and our strategy remains firmly focussed on partnership working with employers, employee representatives, local authorities and educational providers to support both our existing and future workforces. Weíre very excited to be supporting Urban Futures and unionlearn with this new and exciting scheme and look forward to developing this further with them.î

Barry Francis, Regional Manager unionlearn with the Southern and Eastern Region commented:

ìUnionlearn is pleased to work with the LSC, GoSkills, BAA and affiliate unions including Unison, Unite and the GMB at Stansted Airport. Through these excellent partnerships we have been able to work to each otherís strengths and co-ordinate a structured approach to learning and skills at Stansted. This has really enabled learning to take off at Stansted and benefit a range of staff. Unionlearn has chaired and coordinated the activities of a steering group and we look forward to seeing the strategy, which seeks to open more learning centres, implemented.î

George Kieffer, Deputy Chair of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) was present for todayís announcement and said:

ìSkills are key to the economic prosperity of the East of England and the UK in an increasingly global economy and research shows that in our Region skills and employability are a particular challenge.

ìEEDA has supported Skills Academies and Higher Education institutions throughout the Region, including the University Campus Suffolk in Ipswich as a major funder (see if other examples to localise release). We welcome this initiative by BAA, Urban Futures and Union Learn to develop and enhance the skills of the employee pool for the airport and businesses in the vicinity.î

Addressing todayís forum, Phil Young of Urban Futures said:

ìThe Academy will provide a framework for all elements of recruitment, training and skills support at Stansted Airport. Its physical presence at the airport will provide an easy gateway for employers to access the support on offer, and for individuals to access employment opportunities.î