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High Flyer
November 23, 2011
Flying a jet is probably easier than trying to take pictures of Anthony Angol. It seems like everyone at London City Airport (LCA) knows its 27-year-old community relations executive – and they all want to stop and say hello. The charismatic former Cumberland School student is flying high thanks to an employment scheme that supports Newham residents who want their career to take off.
In just over a year, the former terminal services agent has been promoted to his new role which, among other things, involves him supporting other local people to find work at London City Airport (LCA). Since 2009, the Take Off Into Work (TOIW) programme has seen almost 200 residents secure employment in and around inner London’s only airport. TOIW is a bespoke training course that meets the needs of employers and, in most cases, leads to employment. The scheme is delivered in partnership with Workplace, Newham Council’s job brokerage scheme, and East London Business Alliance (ELBA).
Did you want always want to work in
aviation?
Living on the doorstep of the airport,
I’ve seen it develop over the years. I’ve
been interested in tourism since I was in
secondary school so the opportunity to
work here seemed too good to be true. I
didn’t realise it, but there are lots of jobs
at the airport and projects like TOIW make
these jobs available to local people.
What interested you about your
chosen career?
When I was young, coming from a modest
background, I wasn’t able to travel to many
places. It was only once I went to college, and
then university, that I had the opportunity to fly
to different countries and see different ways
of life. It really encouraged me to pursue my
pathway into tourism as I knew that would
enable me to see a lot more of the world.
How did you get your job?
I lived in Canning Town and I visited The
Place (a branch of Workplace) to see if I
could find work. I met someone from ELBA
who told me about the scheme and how to
apply. It all took off from there!
Before I got the job at LCA I worked
in retail. I had experience in customer facing roles, so I had the skills needed for
a terminal service agent.
What do you like most about your job?
I like the variety. There are different projects
that we’re all responsible for so every day is
interesting. It’s the fi rst time I’ve worked in an
office. I haven’t had much admin experience
but I have a great manager and if I’m not sure
about something I’ll ask and keep it in mind
for next time: I’m always learning.
What candidates is TOIW looking for?
We’re looking for people who are enthusiastic.
You need to be hard-working, want to make
a change and improve yourself as a person. A
lot of people in Newham don’t take up or don’t
know about opportunities on their doorstep
that are open to them. Anyone from the area
that’s unemployed and wants to change their
life should consider applying for TOIW.
What advice would you give someone
looking for work?
There are organisations out there, like ELBA
and Workplace, which can help you. Be
proactive, look around and identify these
places. A lot of people in the position I was in
may think those organisations won’t be able
to help them, but they can. They are very helpful. What happened to me, happened
by chance but the opportunities are there for
anyone who wants them enough.
Get ready for take-off
If you’re aged over 17 and interested in finding out more about TOIW and other employment opportunities at LCA, visit Workplace offices in Stratford, Canning Town or East Ham. You must be an unemployed Newham resident to be eligible to apply for TOIW. For more information call Anupma Majhu on 020 7068 6988.