The biggest recruitment fair to be held by a single UK company is being staged by British Airways this week(Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25 ).

The aim is to give a flying start to the airline’s campaign to recruit more than 7,000 people in the next 12 months, as it expands operations and improves customer service.

All the vacancies are based in the UK but stretch right across the airline’s activities from ground staff to cabin crew, IT professionals to marketeers.

More than 10,000 visitors are expected to attend the fair each day - including careers advisors from 114 universities in the UK and Europe and 200 schools and colleges.

To reflect the changing mix of passengers flying British Airways, particular emphasis will be made on recruiting from more diverse communities. The importance of language skills will also be highlighted.

Tina Oakley, the airline’s Head of Recruitment, said: ” The idea behind the fair is to find an imaginative way of boosting recruitment by showing people just what a huge range of different jobs we offer and also the opportunities for career development. We are currently going through our biggest yet recruitment drive. With the number of recruits we are looking to attract, it makes sense to stage the biggest company career fair the UK has ever seen.

“One of our strengths as an employer is the ability of our people to change jobs and move around the airline, so we hope there will be something to interest everyone.”

An added attraction on Saturday, will be the chance for visitors to try their hand at “flying” a flight simulator under the supervision of an experienced pilot. The Working World of British Airways is being run by 100 of the airline’s own staff who will be giving first hand advise on working for the company.

The fair is open at London’s Olympia from noon until 8pm on Friday, April 24, and from 10am until 5pm on Saturday, April 25. Entrance is free.

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