Bristol Airport has launched an innovative training and skills initiative to help local residents develop employability skills and secure jobs at the airport or in the surrounding area.
Starting next month, the airport will fund the ‘Take Off Programme,’ designed to provide mentoring and skills development for a diverse range of individuals, including retirees looking to rejoin the workforce and those returning after family or caregiving responsibilities.
The programme will focus on supporting underrepresented groups and individuals facing employment barriers, such as those with mental health challenges, low confidence, or limited access to opportunities. It will particularly target residents of Weston-super-Mare, South Bristol and other areas within commuting distance of the airport.
Funded through Bristol Airport’s Achieve Fund, the initiative will be delivered in partnership with Partners in Bristol, a leading college training provider. They will offer tailored employability workshops, programmes and initiatives for individuals with significant life experience who are currently unemployed.
Rob Hazelton, Managing Director of Partners in Bristol, commented: “At Partners in Bristol, we are proud to support individuals in gaining the skills and confidence they need to re-enter the workforce. Through our strong position as a leading provider of adult skills in the region, we are pleased to be working in partnership with the airport and its supply chain to offer bespoke programmes that provide work experience at the airport.
“This hands-on experience is followed by individualised vocational skills courses, equipping learners with the tools they need to secure sustainable employment that benefits both them and the wider region.
“Our professionally designed curricula enhance skills, leading to increased productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. We deliver sector-based work academies, online courses and one-to-one sessions, combining interactive and individual activities – all taught to an exceptional standard by our specialist tutors.
“By working closely with businesses across a wide number of sectors, we ensure that our training is aligned with industry needs, providing job-ready skills that support both individuals and employers in Bristol and the South West.”
Cherie Marchant, People Director at Bristol Airport, said: “Through our unique position working with a variety of business partners at the Airport, we are able to provide work experience and help develop skills required that will help support a variety of individuals, many of whom will have barriers to entering the workplace.
“Once they have completed training and developed their skills, we are hopeful that local employment opportunities will then be offered, including roles at the Airport.”
The Achieve Fund was established in partnership with North Somerset Council as part of a Section 106 planning commitment, supporting employment and skills initiatives linked to the airport’s growth and development.
For more information regarding Partners in Bristol, please click here.
