Airport Ambassadors report for duty as college students give a helping hand

Students from St Helens college have started work at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) this week, as Airport ‘Ambassadors’ to help passengers travelling through one of the UK’s top 10 busiest airports with any queries they may have.

The volunteers are all studying at St Helens College for a Level 2 Diploma in the Aviation Environment and their role as Airport Ambassadors fulfils the ‘Meet and Greet’ Travel and Tourism Services part of their course. The students are hoping for potential future careers based at an airport in areas such as airline cabin crew or working for a handling agent looking after passenger check-in.

The scheme is a joint venture between LJLA and St Helens College which is renowned for its courses specifically linked with the airport and airline industry and is part of the Airport’s growing work with schools and colleges, aimed at giving students the opportunity to experience at first hand the workings of a busy regional airport.

The nine students, who have been given the title ‘Airport Ambassador’, are all aged between 16 and 18 years and were hand picked by lecturers at the College based upon the criteria agreed between the Airport and the College and will be based at the Airport four days a week for the coming weeks. The students will be working throughout the terminal building, in areas including the check-in hall, arrivals area and the departure lounge and will be on hand to answer general passenger enquiries and to come to the aid of departing or arriving passengers who perhaps appear unsure about what they need to do or where they need to go.

The students will not only be familiarising themselves with the airline operations at the airport but will also be on hand to assist others at the airport looking after customer services, public transport information and at the Information Desk. The Ambassadors are also likely to play a key role in guiding passengers through some of the disruption caused by the ongoing £12m development works currently underway at the Airport.

Dave Otter, Head of Training and Development at LJLA commented, “The experience we are able to give to these students is unique in the region. Unlike some work experience where students don’t really get too involved, these Ambassadors will be working with Airport front line staff, dealing face to face with our passengers, and making a real contribution to the Airport’s business. There is no better way than this, to help those looking for a future career in aviation, to understand just what makes the Airport tick.”

Debbie Sloan, Curriculum Manager for Travel and Aviation Studies at St. Helens College said: ‘St Helens College is delighted to be working in Partnership with LJLA. It is an excellent opportunity for our students to apply the Customer Service Skills they have been developing during their Aviation Industry programme of study.”

Airport Ambassador, Gemma Hardy, 17, from St Helens added, “I’m both a little nervous but at the same time really excited about working here, when I think that we’ll be giving passengers advise on anything from where to check-in over sized baggage to what can be carried in hand luggage, but we know there’s lots of experienced staff working with us whilst we get up to speed on things. The experience we’ll gain will be fantastic though.”

To find out more information regarding studying Airport and Airline Related Courses at St Helens College please contact Maureen Briers – Course Leader on 01744 623153 or mbriers@sthelens.ac.uk