News 

The London Stansted Employment Partnership (LSEP) has been hailed as a major success in a report published as part of the Budget by Chancellor, Gordon Brown.

The LSEP, managed by Urban Futures, offers a career pathway for residents with real opportunities for development, training and career progression. Candidates enrol on a four-week training course, which covers issues such as interview techniques and job applications. At the end of the course participants are guaranteed and interview for a position at Stansted Airport.

The scheme has been developed and delivered in partnership with Harlow College and 30 airport employers. To date, more than 822 people have finished the course and over 32 percent have secured a wide range of jobs in areas such as retail, baggage handling, customer service and security.

The project has been running since March 2003 and was highlighted as best practice in the Tackling Worklessness in London report, a supplementary document to the budget.

Terry Morgan, Managing Director at Stansted Airport, said:

“Recognition at the highest level for this project is extremely welcome and demonstrates the hard work and commitment that has been undertaken by all those involved.

We continue to be extremely focused on ensuring that communities near Stansted are in a position to gain from the social and economic benefits of being near a major international airport – and schemes like this certainly support this aim.

Stansted is a very attractive option for those seeking work, and our challenge for the future is to maintain our commitment that allows opportunities at the airport to remain open for all.”

To read the Budget document entitled, Employment Opportunities for All – Tackling Worklessness in London visit:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/business/2007/budget_2007/documents/default.stm