Posted: Wednesday 26 May 2010

Airport Employees Fly Through Education

Kilmarnock College has been helping employees from Prestwick Airport spread their wings and gain new qualifications. The maintenance employees received certificates from Kilmarnock College after successfully completing training courses in Welding, Hydraulics and Vehicle Body Repair.

Eight employees completed the two day Hydraulic training course, covering areas including the principles of hydraulics, valve and pump checking, fault finding and basic system maintenance. A further three employees completed the eight week Vehicle Body Repair programme, which covered skills such as paint mixing, preparation procedures and paint application, and six employees completed the twelve week Welding course.

The Prestwick employees were able to complete the qualifications during their day to day roles at the airport, with Assessors from Kilmarnock College regularly visiting the employees to ensure they met all requirements of the courses. Certificates were presented to the employees by Chris Merry, Business Development Consultant at Kilmarnock College, at a recent ceremony held in the airport.

Chris Merry said: “We have been working with Prestwick Airport for the last 20 years delivering training to employees in a range of areas, from customer service to vehicle maintenance. Prestwick Airport’s management team should be praised for their commitment to providing ongoing training to their employees, which will not only enhance their career prospects but also ensure that the airport continues to operate at the very highest standards.”  

Jules Matteoni, Manager of Prestwick Airport Handling and Fire Service, said: “After a major restructure, we required a more flexible and competent department who could deliver in a variety of disciplines. With the support of Kilmarnock College and Business Development Consultant Chris Merry, these requirements were met and our employees embarked on a series of training programmes.

“The quality of training given by Kilmarnock College was outstanding and we will continue to work in partnership with them, providing opportunities for our staff to improve their job functions. The majority of equipment repairs can now be fulfilled in house, which is fantastic for our business and very fulfilling for our employees.”

For further information on courses available for study through Kilmarnock College, please contact 01563 523501 or visit the training solutions section.

Pictured (from left to right): Prestwick Airport Mechanics William Alston, Phil McGhee and Ross Thomson, Supervisor Ian Barr, Chris Merry from Kilmarnock College, Prestwick Airport Technician Michael Frakolakis, Prestwick Airport Mechanic Tommy Clark, Manager of Prestwick Handling Jules Matteoni, Prestwick Airport Mechanic Alex Mackintosh, Prestwick Airport Electrician Gordon Reid, Ritchie Falconer from Kilmarnock College and Prestwick Airport Mechanic John Boyle.

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For more information, contact:

Denise Clark, Halogen Communications, (T) 0131 202 0120 (F) 0131 225 3757 (E) denise@halogencom.com         

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