16
July
2019
|
12:31
Europe/Amsterdam

Airport praised by MP for offering staff free college courses

  • Stansted launches 30 new free online college courses for its 12,000 employees
  • MP Robert Halfon says airport’s ‘leading the way’ in staff training
  • Follows success of free Maths and English courses that were rolled out to staff last year

Harlow MP Robert Halfon has praised a ground-breaking initiative by London Stansted and Harlow College that aims to boost skills and training amongst the 12,000 people who work at the airport.

Staff working for the 200 on site airport companies are being given the opportunity to gain accredited qualifications run by Harlow College in over 30 subjects, including mental health awareness, customer service, counselling skills and dementia care.

Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow
It is great news that Stansted Airport will be offering free training courses for their employees with the support of the brilliant Harlow College. Lifelong learning is essential for social justice and employers have an important role to play in delivering this. Reskilling and upskilling staff will ensure that individuals from all backgrounds can get themselves back on the education ladder of opportunity, investing in themselves to achieve security and prosperity for their futures. I'm proud that Stansted Airport, with Harlow College, are leading the way on this and hope that other employers will follow suit.
Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow

The latest initiative comes after the successful launch of free GCSE equivalent English and Maths classes the airport rolled out to staff and local residents in 2018.

Vesela Ivanova, Employment and Skills Manager at London Stansted Airport
The courses are aimed at airport staff who may not have access to other free learning opportunities, which are often restricted to jobseekers. They add to the collection of courses provided by Stansted Airport’s Employment and Skills Academy to help people find employment at the airport and assist in the upskilling of staff already employed at Stansted.

Following the huge success of English and Maths courses we launched last year, we discussed with Harlow College what other topics we could offer to our staff. These new online courses give airport employees the chance to learn in a flexible way to fit with the 24-hour operation of our airport.

It is important that our employees have the opportunity to upskill at their fingertips and the accessibility of these courses will let more of our people add to their repertoire of skills. This digital age is an exciting new chapter for our Academy and we’re excited to see what the next year holds.
Vesela Ivanova, Employment and Skills Manager at London Stansted Airport