Harefield Gazette

High praise for Heathrow graduates

One could be future chief executive

- By Salina Patel salina.patel@trinitymir­ror.com

A SPECIAL graduation ceremony celebrated the achievemen­ts of 82 Heathrow Academy apprentice­s from across west London.

Among the latest cohort of graduates were young people from Hounslow, Hillingdon and Ealing, cementing Heathrow’s commitment to providing work for people living in the five surroundin­g boroughs to the airport.

The event attended by local MPs, councillor­s, and CEO John HollandKay­e was hosted at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel on Bath Road on Thursday November 5.

Heathrow Chief Executive John HollandKay­e said: “The Academy gives an opportunit­y for talented local people to fulfil their potential, through one of the many amazing careers open to them at Heathrow.

“My aim is that a future chief executive of Heathrow will come from one of our local

Ferechta Khawrin-Fatih

nominated for the learner special recognitio­n

outstandin­g quality award.

ORIGINALLY from Afghanista­n, Ferechta moved to France with her family when she was eightyears-old, completed her university degree, married and moved to England with her husband Zabiullah.

The couple settled in Hillingdon and had communitie­s ommunities – and their journey may well start at the academy.”

Now in its 11th year the success of the academy was highlighte­d at the event including saving taxpayers £8m; placing more than 5,000 local residents into further training opportunit­ies; and 3,188 people directly into airport jobs; as well as investing £4m in the growth of the academy.

visited Terminal 5 after a friend told them how amazing it was.

Shortly after, she heard about the Heathrow Academy and went straight down to meet the team. She was enrolled into the pre-employment training course and two days after completing it had secured an interview with Bvlgari. Mrs KhawrinFai­th said: “It all happened very quickly. The interview went really well and I started with

Should expansion go ahead, the airport has promised to offer 10,000 apprentice­ships over the course of the expansion project.

Heathrow Academy offers recruitmen­t; apprentice­ship and developmen­t.

them straight away.

“There I was in a marble floored shop and the first thing I sold was a diamond ring. I couldn’t believe it.”

She has completed three apprentice­ships, the most recent advanced apprentice­ship in management, and after three-and-a-half years with Bvlgari moved on to become team leader for Watches of Switzerlan­d.

Her husband followed in her footsteps and both have worked at Heathrow ever since.

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