Airport celebrates Prince’s Trust programme success with Flying Start Award

London Luton Airport is honoured to have sponsored the Flying Start Award at The Prince’s Trust’s regional ‘Celebrate Success’ Event held on Wednesday, 12^th November, at The Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage. The award recognises those young people who, despite having faced substantial personal obstacles, are in sustainable employment as a result of a Prince’s Trust programme.

Michael Tyler from Dunstable, the winner of the Flying Start award, has succeeded despite many setbacks as a young adult. He has improved his chances in life and is now in full-time employment, with further career aspirations. The event celebrated the achievements of young people across the East of England and showcased London Luton Airport’s award-winning “Get into Airports” programme.

“Get into Airports” is a four week course to help unemployed young people aged 18-25 find employment. The first two weeks are dedicated to training and preparation for the world of work, and the second two are spent on a work placement with our airport business partners, including Select Service Partner, OCS, TUI, The Restaurant Group and Dixons Travel. This year 21 unemployed young people have successfully secured jobs at the Airport after completing the programme.

From the initial pilot in 2011 “Get into Airports” has transformed into a flagship programme for both London Luton Airport and the Prince’s Trust. To date, six programmes have run from which 80% of the participants have secured sustainable employment. The impact has been far reaching. Following the provision of a placement for a young person on the second programme; Thameslink adopted the “Get into” model and created “Get into Rail”. Thameslink has now run five programmes, also with 80% of participants gaining employment. Stansted Airport ran its first “Get into Airports” programme this year.

Three in four young people supported by the Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training. Following the course each participant will receive up to six months’ support from the Trust to help them further their careers. Behind the scenes this locally-led initiative brings together services such as the JobCentre, Signpost, InTraining and many other organisations to provide key support structures to the young people’s dynamic environment outside of work.

Rupert Lawrie, London Luton Airport’s Commercial Director said, “Ensuring employment success for young people is a commitment London Luton Airport stands by. It is clear the young people across Luton have the ambition and passion to be successful. The “Get into Airports” programme assists with the crucial but challenging step of getting a foot in the door. The Airport has made a really strong impact on the youth job market. I am proud, and we are hugely rewarded by our progress but there is still more to accomplish.”

To find out more about ‘Get into Airports’ click here to view our video.

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Pictured left to right; Rupert Lawrie, Commercial Director, London Luton Airport, Michael Tyler, Winner of the Flying Start Award.

About The Prince’s Trust

Youth charity The Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged young people to get their lives on track. It supports 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. Many of the young people helped by The Prince’s Trust are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness or mental health problems, or they have been in trouble with the law. The Trust’s programmes give vulnerable young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work. Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training. The Prince of Wales’s charity has helped 750,000 young people since 1976 and supports over 100 more each day. Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842.