Local employment will receive a boost as more than 800 of the jobs fall within Gatwick’s retail and restaurant portfolio, while a further 400 jobs are on offer working for the airport’s ground services teams.
As the airport prepares for the summer season, expected to be the busiest on record, a wave of new staff is required. Retail and restaurant jobs include roles at WHSmith, JD Wetherspoon, Boots, Fat Face, Starbucks and Monsoon, while more than 400 employees are being recruited as ground handling agents. Positions here will include check-in desk assistants and baggage handlers, the latter working for the likes of DHL, Menzies, Airline Services, dnata and Swissport.
Supporting over 85,000 jobs at a national level and contributing £5.3bn in GDP, Gatwick’s contribution to the UK economy is considerable. In the South-East alone, the airport generates around 24,000 on-airport jobs and a further 12,000 jobs through related activities.
Gatwick Airport’s Head of Retail, Rachel Bulford, commented on the various positions opening up inside the airport. “These roles will help to ensure we provide excellent service in all our outlets as passenger numbers increase over the busy summer period. A large proportion of our staff are based in the surrounding counties, making Gatwick one of the largest economic drivers for the South-East region.”
DHL’s Vice President of Operations, Spencer Conday, said: “We are pleased to be working with Gatwick airport on our strategy for 2018 recruitment. By combining our efforts, we hope to attract the best talent for a number of exciting jobs and career opportunities at the airport and ensure customers continue to receive great service.”
Gatwick airport will also be attending the East Surrey College Job Fair on May 23, alongside 30 other employers based at the airport, to showcase the wide range of roles on offer.
