Success stories

Heathrow Airport Retail Academy Apprenticeships have been developed to meet clear business needs. In 2004, the Retail Academy identified that recruitment, retention and skills were key issues for airport retailers, who collectively employ more than 5,000 staff – with a further 2,500 staff required once Terminal 5 opens this year.

Apprenticeships have also allowed Heathrow Airport Retail Academy to demonstrate their commitment to their stakeholders and to develop a more constructive relationship with airport retailers.

Why bother with Apprenticeships?

Karima continues: 'Apprenticeships help on all fronts: they aid recruitment by making a career in airport retail more attractive; a total of 44 retail employers have apprentices on our programme. They improve retention as learners feel valued and optimistic about their career prospects; and they develop the skills that airport employers need.'

What works for Heathrow Airport Ltd?

Karima Sakhi, Retail Academy manager explains: 'Like many companies, Heathrow has a long-established and highly effective Apprenticeship programme for its staff. But we also manage Apprenticeships on behalf of other employers through our Retail Academy. As all Apprenticeships are delivered on site this minimises disruption for retailers and staff.'

David Boyer, partnership manager at the London West Learning and Skills Council says: 'Heathrow’s Retail Academy is a genuinely innovative programme exemplifying the underlying principles of today’s Apprenticeships. It is supported by a growing number of the airport’s retail employers, who see the results in their employees’ quality of service.'

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