Josh Dean, MP for Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford, has visited Stansted Airport’s Employment and Skills Academy to learn more about its work supporting local people into training and employment.
More than 3,500 people have received free careers support through the Academy, which helps jobseekers build skills, gain confidence and access opportunities across the airport community.
The Academy works with more than 200 businesses based at London Stansted, supporting people looking to start work, return to employment or change careers. Opportunities span a wide range of sectors, including hospitality, retail, security, logistics and aviation.
A total of 330 people completed training through the Academy during the last financial year, benefiting from CV workshops, interview preparation, careers advice and industry-focused training courses designed to help them move into employment.
Josh Dean MP said:
“Visiting the Stansted Airport’s Employment and Skills Academy was a real pleasure, and we are so fortunate to have such a fantastic training and education facility right on our doorstep. With around a one million people currently not in education, employment or training, investing in technical skills and vocational education has never been more important. The Academy is helping to meet this challenge, while also supporting people of all ages to develop new skills.
“Whether they’re taking their first steps into work or looking to retrain for a new career, the Academy is opening doors for people across our community and helping them gain the skills and confidence they need for the future. It was inspiring to hear directly from students about their experiences and the opportunities their courses are creating for them, and I am looking forward to visiting again in the future.”
In addition to skills training, the Academy works closely with job centres and local authorities to widen access to employment opportunities. Recent initiatives have included a mentoring programme for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), helping them build confidence, develop workplace skills and explore career options at the airport.
Having previously attended the Academy, Wendy Reynolds now works as a MAG Landside Receptionist at the airport. She said:
“The course genuinely gave me 100% confidence; thanks to the positive feedback I received throughout. While completing the course, I applied for the Landside Receptionist position. My interview took place shortly after the course ended, and I’m pleased to say I was successful and offered the job.”
Nathan Mullane, the airport’s Employment and Skills Manager, said:
“Starting a new job or changing direction can feel quite daunting, so it’s great to be able to help people build their confidence and take that next step. Seeing so many local people go on to find work and start new careers through the Academy is something we’re really proud of.”
