Manchester Airport’s £1bn transformation programme has celebrated its latest milestone as it welcomed its 100th apprentice onto the project.
With just four weeks until the first phase of the development opens to passengers, Ross Wainwright, 24, from Stoke, joined the scheme to work for R&H Installations.
Ross decided to do an apprenticeship because he was looking for a career change and is now working on the duct and pipe work across the project.
He said: “My apprenticeship on the Manchester Airport Transformation Programme has helped me to get my foot in the door, providing valuable experience on site whilst being able to learn as I go along.
“The Manchester Airport Transformation Programme is one of the largest construction projects in the North of England, so it is really exciting to be working on it.”
He joins apprentices working on scheme in areas such as engineering, painting and decorating, plumbing and project management. Over the course of the project more than 150 apprentices will be recruited. It comes as the number of people currently working on one of the largest construction projects in the North of England has reached more than 1750.
The transformation programme will see Terminal 2 grow by 150% to become the airport’s main terminal. The first pier and multi storey car park are set to open to passengers from the beginning of April.
Andrew Cowan, CEO at Manchester Airport, said: “This is another significant milestone for our transformation programme. When we started the project, we made a commitment that businesses and people from around the region would benefit from the development.
“It’s pleasing that as we get closer to the opening of the first phase that work is continuing at pace on the rest of the site and we’re continuing to see more apprentices like Ross getting an opportunity to work on the scheme.”
Bryan Glass, Project Director at Laing O’Rourke and on the Manchester Airport Transformation Programme, said: “It’s rewarding to see so many apprentices begin their careers here on one of the UK’s largest construction projects. Everyone involved in the project – Laing O’Rourke as main construction partner, together with our supply chain is committed to developing the talent of the future and I’d like to welcome Ross, the project’s 100th apprentice on board.”
