London City Airport (LCY) has today strengthened its partnership with the University of East London (UEL) by enrolling in its Diversity of Thought Employer Partnership Programme.
The Programme is a vehicle for driving social mobility and will see LCY and UEL work together to address the key stages of the recruitment cycle where those from marginalised backgrounds are less represented. The Programme intends to build social and cultural capital amongst UEL’s students and graduates, who will benefit from one-to-one mentoring, exposure to the professional environment and work-based learning at LCY.
The move comes after LCY and UEL announced their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September last year to enhance jobs, research and skills in the local area. The MoU focusses on developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) resources for local schools to enable them to improve student learning and aid research projects.
As part of the Programme, LCY has offered paid internships to several UEL students, giving them the chance to work across and learn about different parts of the business, including sustainability, community engagement and I.T.
LCY hosted a hackathon event for UEL students, who undertook an aviation-themed STEM challenge – tasked with developing concepts for a project to deliver zero-emission flights at the airport. The winning participants were shortlisted and following interviews several were offered internships starting in April 2024.
Michael Spiers, Chief People Officer, London City Airport, said: “East London has for many years faced challenges with social mobility, so we’re proud to be working with UEL in taking direct steps to address this issue.
“It was impressive to see the variety of skills displayed at the hackathon event, and we’re delighted to welcome the selected students to the airport to start their internships.”
Cherise Basslian, Director of Careers and Student Enterprise, added: “We’re thrilled to have London City Airport on board as our newest partner in creating more opportunities and better access to aspirational careers for our students.
“Providing students with experience of working in a professional environment is invaluable for both their confidence and employability.”
