Employment Champion 2009 Awarded to London City Airport

London City Airport is awarded Employment Champion of the Year at the East London Business Alliance Annual Employee Volunteer Awards. The award recognizes the airport’s commitment to help local residents get into employment.

The award was presented to the airport’s chief executive, Richard Gooding OBE who commented: “The Employment Champion award acknowledges the airport’s commitment to help to encourage Newham residents to successfully apply for work at the airport.”   

“This award”, Richard continued, “is a tribute to our Community Relations team, headed by Elizabeth Hegarty, who have successfully implemented the Take Off into Work training programme. “

The programme is designed specifically for unemployed residents of Newham in association with the London Borough of Newham’s local employment service, Workplace.  Candidates complete two weeks of airport specific employability training workshops followed by a minimum two week work placement and interview.

So far in 2009 61 long term unemployed local residents have successfully found work at the airport under this programme.

London City Airport Limited along with the 60 other onsite employers employ approximately 2000 staff with 70% having been recruited from East London.  Through Take Off Into Work and other initiatives, the airport and its partners help ensure that local people benefit from the employment opportunities created by the operation growth of the airport.

The airport would also like to congratulate Rokeby Business Support Group for winning the Partnership of the Year award.  The airport has been a member of this group since its creation.