A consortium of employers in Sussex has begun a scheme to recruit
people to deal with the predicted jobs boom at Gatwick over the next seven
years.
The scheme, called Gatwork, will link employers in the
area to job seekers across the country and is led by Sussex Enterprise, an organisation
that supports and represents businesses in the county.
Leading employers including WHSmith, ServisAir, Gate
Gourmet Le Meridien Hotel, JMC Airlines and ADI Security Group have signed up
to the scheme.
Figures show the number of people at Gatwick could
increase from the current level of 28,000 people to 34,000 over the next seven
years with the airport’s continued expansion.
Gatwork will take advantage of economies of scale and
share ideas and resources in order to recruit staff, and encourage mothers,
students and mature workers to work at the airport.
Those participating will be able to take part in training
programmes designed to provide them with clear career options.
Chris Little, recruitment and training manager of WHSmith’s
Europe Travel Retail, said, “We are looking at a new, more flexible rota system
so that we can accommodate potential employees with a variety of preferences
and demands on their time.”
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