On Tuesday 18th July, the K10 ‘Shared Apprenticeship Scheme’ (SAS) Team was invited for an airside tour of Heathrow Airport, one of the world’s busiest and most iconic aviation hubs. The team were able to witness first hand, the remarkable work being done by their talented apprentices within the airport’s vast premises as well as the ongoing operations of the wider Heathrow team and supply chain. The team was joined by the Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy’s Kadian McNab who acted as the team’s tour guide throughout.
The K10 Team were fortunate to get an up-close look at the intricate operation of planes, baggage handling systems, and ground support vehicles, as well as some of the ongoing projects that the apprentices are working on including the infamous Cargo Tunnel. The first stop on the tour was Terminal 5, Heathrow newest built Terminal, which will act as a blueprint for future terminal layout and construction at the airport. The team were then shown the VIP and Royal facilities that cater to exclusive a passengers, the dedicated winter resilience team, and the air drone defence systems. Most excitingly, the team were given access to an A380 to tour onboard, the cockpit and the staff sleeping quarters during the plane turnaround before flight. As cool as the cockpit/staff quarters were to view, the unanimous decision was a preference for Business Class seating…
The work being carried out by Heathrow Airport extends far beyond bricks and mortar; Their commitment to building and maintaining the infrastructure that keeps millions of travellers connected was infused with a deep sense of purpose and responsibility. Heathrow have a huge commitment to the local community and the Shared Apprenticeship Scheme is a perfect example of this.
The SAS team would like to thank everyone who helped organise this tour and we are looking forward to the future of Heathrow aviation and construction.
