Heathrow Airport is to launch an apprenticeship scheme with the aim of creating 10,000 apprenticeships by 2030.

In response to a report from the Heathrow Skills Taskforce, the scheme aims to build a stronger network of trained employees to ensure the future planned expansion of the airport “leaves a national legacy for the airport’s local community and future infrastructure projects.”

The scheme is also being launched with the hope of reducing the skills deficit and cutting local youth unemployment.

The airport will also be trialling a new “Skills Passport” that will give apprentices the opportunity to log their achievements. After this is done, Heathrow will work with other major infrastructure employers to facilitate the transfer of skills and experience to other major UK projects.

Heathrow have also announced they will offer 1,200 work placement days to students looking to make the move into construction and digital careers from September 2020.

John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow Chief Executive, said: “The UK’s ability to compete in the future will depend upon the skills people are provided with to help them learn and adapt to new ways of working and changing technologies.

“Heathrow’s new Shared Apprenticeship Scheme and Skills Passport will equip our future colleagues with the skills necessary to fill the tens of thousands of jobs set to be created at Heathrow and other major projects across the UK.”

Lord David Blunkett, Chair of the independent Heathrow Skills Taskforce, said:

“Britain is staring at a new wave of infrastructure projects with major investments such as Tideway, HS2 and Hinkley Point C on the horizon; together with the enormous private investment in the expansion of Heathrow. But more must be done to ensure the skills required for these projects are accessible and transferrable.”

“We are proud to see that Heathrow is taking the Taskforce’s recommendations head-on and are pulling together other major projects, commercial partners and suppliers to secure a new generation of home-grown talent with world-class skills that Britain can be proud of.”