Lord Blunkett to head up Heathrow skills taskforce

The airport said the taskforce will ensure there is a "clear plan" to provide the skills required to build and operate expansion if the government gives the go ahead for a third runway.

One of the aims is to ensure that young people in the local community have the necessary skills to build careers at an expanded Heathrow.

Prime Minister David Cameron had promised a decision on the issue by Christmas last year after the commission led by Sir Howard Davies gave Heathrow the nod, but the debate is still on going.

Lord Blunkett said: "Too often in the UK we make large-scale investments in projects that deliver short-term results which do not benefit and include the wider population, or the long-term needs of the country.

"There is no more room for lost opportunities. Our national infrastructure projects must go hand-in-hand with learning and training opportunities for the workforce of the future."

BQ's Bryce Wilcock recently caught up with Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye to hear more about the airport's plans for expansion.

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