BUSINESSES involved in the £1 billion transformation of Manchester Airport plan have committed to using apprentices from Greater Manchester to work on the project.

A target of 150 apprenticeships being created has been written into the main building contractor Laing O’Rourke’s legacy agreement, which is designed to ensure it provides a lasting positive impact on the local economy.

To date, 34 apprentices have been recruited from across Greater Manchester, while 12 other suppliers have also signed the agreement.

A recruitment event was staged, which aimed to ensure that new businesses joining the project were aware of the benefits of creating apprenticeships, with experts on hand from Trafford College to offer advice

Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, said: “It’s hugely important to us that our transformation programme creates lasting benefits to all of our region.

“As work continues at pace on the scheme, it’s great to see so many of our contractors signing up to our apprenticeship commitment.”

Manchester Airport is also holding a special event to encourage job-seekers from across Greater Manchester to access more than 600 roles including cabin crew, pilots and retail staff, that it says, are currently available on its site,

It will be held at Lancashire Cricket Club on Thursday, April 26, from 10am to 4pm.

Those wishing to attend can register for an hour’s time slot by visitingwww.manchesterairport.co.uk/jobsfair