George Best Belfast City Airport looking to find the next candidate for its apprenticeship programme

The ‘High Flyers Apprenticeship Scheme’, launched in 2013, offers apprenticeship placements across a range of disciplines to young people aged 17-24, and is this year recruiting an apprentice for the Airport Fire Service.

Together with People 1st, Belfast City Airport will give one young individual the chance to enrol in a two-year programme, during which they will experience on-the-job training in areas such as confined spaces, casualty care, the wearing of breathing apparatus and fire appliance driving, and complete an NVQ qualification in ICT applications. The lucky apprentice will also partake in live fire demonstrations and engage in boat handling and water rescue, a training aspect unique to Belfast City Airport.

Stephen Patton, Human Resources and CR Manager at the airport, said: “We are delighted to partner with People 1st to continue the delivery of our successful High Flyers Apprenticeship Scheme, now in its eighth year. People 1st has an impressive record of identifying skills and strengths in individuals and matching them with a valuable training or employment support initiative, and we have a 100% record of apprentices continuing on in permanent full-time employment on the completion of their apprenticeship, so we are excited to not only work with them on this role but to explore what other doors we can open together in the future.”

Expressing her delight at being involved with an apprenticeship scheme that enables young people across Northern Ireland to gain vocational experience and boost their future employability prospects, Valerie Foster, Business Development Manager at People 1st, explained: “Belfast City Airport is a leading organisation in Northern Ireland which shares our passion for helping people fulfil their full potential and see their ambition become a reality.

“This apprenticeship opportunity with the airport’s High Flyers programme will create a pathway from dream role to real-life career for one young male or female and it is our pleasure to be involved in the candidate placement process.”

Applications for Belfast City Airport’s firefighting apprenticeship role are now being accepted from individuals, aged between 17 and 24 years old, who possess grades C or above in English and Maths, a clean, valid driving license, a current First Aid certificate issued within the last 18 months and who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Detailing further the attributes candidates should have, Chief Fire Officer at Belfast City Airport, Seamus MacMahon, responsible for overseeing the training and career development of firefighting apprentices, added:

“The role is open to both males and females who are physically fit, who excel as part of a team and who can thrive and perform in pressurised situations.

“We are dedicated to mentoring individuals through our apprenticeship programme, which has so far seen three apprentices graduate and become full-time firefighters at Belfast City Airport, and ultimately want someone who is going to show the same level of commitment to the role and grasp this opportunity with both hands.”

For further information, or to register your interest in the role, contact People 1st on 028 9066 9669 or visit www.people-1st.co.uk.

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