Press Release

Gatwick Learning and Development Centre launches new induction programme

 
26 June 2006

 

The Gatwick Learning and Development Centre, Ashdown House, South Terminal, opened its doors last week for the launch of the first ‘Gatwick General Induction Programme’. The one day programme is open to any employers and their staff and covers essential topics such as airport knowledge, effective communication, health and safety and ‘working together’ skills.

The launch of the programme was extremely well attended, with employers and managers from many different companies on airport, including BAA Gatwick, La Senza, TTT, Gatwick Health Control, WH Smith, Ted Baker, Starbucks, Rentokil Initial and Travelex.

The induction programme starts officially next month, with three scheduled dates, the 6, 10 and 20 July and will run weekly from August including some Saturdays in order to meet the needs of shift workers.

The Learning and Development Centre is the first of its kind at Gatwick Airport and has been set up as a centre of learning excellence for airport staff. The concept was developed in direct response to the airport’s employers needs, to train and develop the airports 25,000 strong workforce. From an idea initially raised at the annual Gatwick Airport Employment Forum in 2004, the centre opened for business just 18 months later to serve the 280 different companies and organisations that make up Gatwick Airport’s diverse community.

The Learning and Development Centre has been developed in partnership with the region’s leading business and learning organisations including, the Learning and Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus, BAA Gatwick, Central Sussex College, Sussex Enterprise and the West Sussex Economic Partnership. Collectively, they have worked together to create the centre, located at Gatwick Airport – the UK’s second largest airport, handling nearly 33 million passengers a year.

Fully equipped, the centre offers state of the art technology, including 11 computer terminals with internet access, interactive presentational equipment, as well as providing facilities for seminar based training.

Carolynn Jones, centre manager said: “ The course went really well. We aim to make the induction course as interactive and interesting as possible and it really helps the dynamics of the group that the attendees represented the diversity of companies located on airport. I’m really excited about the future of the centre as I hope it will become a central focus for the airport, supporting people from different backgrounds to gain employment within the airport and to provide individuals with essential skills to ensure a successful career at Gatwick.”

Media enquiries

Notes to Editors
Employers or anyone wanting to know more about the Gatwick Learning and Development Centre should contact Carolynn Jones on 01293 502 557 or via email csjones@centralsussex.ac.uk

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