Due to increased passenger demand, London Heathrow Airport has opened 12,000 vacancies and 1,000 new security officer positions as a part of its updated local employment program known as the Local Recovery Plan.
The renewed Local Recovery Plan has been designed to support the local community through jobs, skills development and education. As part of this recruitment drive, the airport has also extended its London Living Wage pledge to its entire direct supply chain, moving a further 1,300 people onto the starting rate for entry-level positions.
Alongside this, the airport’s Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy has assisted job seekers with advice and support and has achieved a 77% interview-to-offer rate for jobs brokered through the initiative. It has also hosted virtual work experience for 729 students aged 16-19 and welcomed 1,220 primary school children to take part in Heathrow Young Explorers to encourage the next generation to think about travel job opportunities. The airport has pledged £100,000 (US$125,000) in apprenticeship levy transfers and supported 200 students with additional learning needs at Harrow College & Uxbridge College to participate in an essential skills masterclass. To build on these efforts, stakeholders will be brought together through the Heathrow Local Recovery Forum to agree targets on future actions.
Becky Coffin, communities and sustainability director at Heathrow, said, “There are huge benefits to living on the doorstep of the UK’s hub airport, and as passenger numbers slowly return, we are once again able to share them with our neighbors. The Heathrow Local Recovery Plan sets out how the community can access the unrivaled opportunities for employment, skills and education that come from living near the UK’s biggest single-site employer. We are also taking important steps to minimize some of the negative impacts, such as cutting carbon and reducing noise to make Heathrow a truly great place to live and work.”
Lord David Blunkett, chair of the Heathrow Local Recovery Forum, said, “Back in 2020, when the pandemic and its impacts on the community around Heathrow were at their worst, we made a pledge to do what we could to help those who felt the brunt of the airport’s operations grinding to a standstill. Now passengers are returning, we can build on that support and offer fantastic career paths and learning experiences in the bustling heart of UK aviation. There is still much to be done, but by working together with partners through the Heathrow Local Recovery Forum, we can once again share the benefits of being part of the Heathrow community.”