School Academy

What is it?

Manchester Enterprise Academy (MEA), just one mile from Manchester Airport, is our local secondary school. Together with Willow Park Housing Trust and City College Manchester, we are proud to sponsor the Academy, where our specialist knowledge of business, travel and tourism will help enrich the curriculum over the years ahead. With the help of our Managing Director and people at every level of our business, we are actively involved in the project; managing the design of the new school building, recruiting staff and offering support to the development of the Academy and its curriculum. Our Customer Services Director Julie Armstrong is a Governor of the school and has been involved in planning the new Academy.

Benefits to our community

Launch Day
On the 2nd October 2009 the whole school took part in an airport sponsored art activity morning. Fifty volunteers from 6 different companies went into school to work with more than 500 pupils. The theme was the environment - flora and fauna that you would expect to see around the Airport site. Years 7 and 8 decorated papier mache keepsake boxes. Year 9 and 10 decorated and designed T-shirts. Year 11 went on a trip to the Airport environs to take photographs. Each aspect was competitive and the judge was Andrew Vaughan from the Whitworth Art Gallery.

MEA Kick Start
MEA students kick started their careers with the help of Airport Business associates. Year 10 pupils from MEA found out about the range of skills required to access employment as part of the BW3, Businesses Working with Wythenshawe, Job Search Skills programme. BW3 is a group of local employers who are working together to support the social and economic regeneration of Wythenshawe. The group includes such organisations as Manchester Airport, Shell, Microsoft, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester City Council, Armstrong Craven, and Parkway Green and Willow Park Housing Associations.

In prestigious surroundings at the City of Manchester Stadium, students were able to meet local employers and participate in a series of workshops aimed at raising awareness of what employers look for when they are recruiting new staff. Business experts provided practical advice on a range of subjects including how to identify and apply for a job, CV’s and personal presentation. Volunteers from the Airport included: Ian Thompson, John Twigg, John Bedson, Paul Russell, Mark Bradley, Chris Paling and Jessica Stainze.

Lee Eastwood from MEA said, “This has been a magnificent event for our students and will provide a platform on which they will be able to build as they start to consider their career choices. We certainly value the time and commitment provided by local employers in helping to provide our young people with skills that will be vital to them in the future.” BW3 Chair and Manchester Airport Community Relations Manager, Wendy Sinfield, added: “ The Job Search Skills programme allows us to provide practical advice and guidance to young people in our community. We hope today’s event will support students in their development and will have helped to raise awareness of local employment opportunities.”

Dragons Den
In September 2010 students from MEA, Parrswood, Knutsford, Piper Hill and Newall Green entered the dragon’s lair at Manchester Airport. Their aim was to show the judges the right business attitude that would gain them investment into their project in time for Christmas.

The groups were at Manchester Airport on 3rd December selling their items to passengers as part of the project before the winner was declared on the13th December. This was when the students saw the Dragons again with their balance sheets in tow. The Dragons presiding over them included Phil Shilson from airport retailer WDF, Gary Palmer from Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Christena Meynell from Singapore Airways and David Hull from Greater Manchester Police. Four schools completed the design task and put forward their best idea - bidding for £100 investment. Their brief was to produce an item that could be sold for a maximum of £5 as a Christmas item for the family. This was the second year of this enterprise competition, and the winning team was from Piper Hill (MEA won in 2009). Students from MEA have vouched to work even harder in 2011 to secure another win.

Job Shadow - March 2011
84 Year 10 students from MEA took part in a 2.5 hour job shadow/work experience session at Manchester Airport. Thirty employees, from companies across the site, hosted the students. Hosts included airline partners, government agencies and contractors.. It is vital that these young people have opportunities to visit businesses and industries in order to meet positive role models, help raise their aspirations and encourage improved educational attainment. Only with the help of many of our colleagues is this possible.

Comments from the students included: "Can I come again?", "It was interesting and not what I expected", "People were really nice and friendly", "I would like a job in valet parking – it was great". Feedback from the hosts was positive with everybody committing to doing it again next year, comments included: "Ana was a credit, I really enjoyed the session and I would consider taking more pupils."

Cheshire Show
In June 2011 the Community Relations Team, along with colleagues from Customer Services, attended our seventh Cheshire Show. A group of MEA children designed the ‘children's make’ activity through a Year 7 enterprise competition. A total of 90 pupils took part in the project with three ideas being short-listed and put to the Airport management panel. The winning entry was "Wildlife Spring Animals", a series of animal characters made from card, with springy legs". Children from the winning team attended the show to help run the activity

Work Experience
In July 2011, fifteen students were offered the opportunity to carry out two weeks work experience at the Airport. Week 1 involved pre employability training and site familiarisation visits. Week 2 involved the students working with various business hosts to experience the world of work first hand. Ten of the students were placed in Manchester Airport departments, such as Motor Transport, the Fire Station, Car Parks and Administration. Five other students worked with service partner companies on-site, such as Greater Manchester Police and Enterprise Rent A Car. Performance reviews were carried out at the end of their placements so students could receive feedback on how they had done.

Hallé Orchestra
Once again in 2011 we have worked with the Hallé Orchestra and the Bridgewater Hall on the ‘Adopt a player’ programme. The initiative includes students from the MEA and children from Crossacres, Ringway and Peel Hall Primary Schools. Musicians held interactive lessons in the schools demonstrating instruments and giving hands on opportunities as well as helping to understand the story of the music. The highlight for many was to attend a concert at the Bridgewater Hall where they were welcomed by the players and introduced to the audience. Further sessions took place after the concert culminating in a performance based on the music for friends and family at the MEA. In addition to the learning associated with the music, this project is a wonderful transition tool for children and parents as well as a showcase for the talent of all of the performers.

Working with Bjork (Biophilia)
Through the Airport’s sponsorship of the Manchester International Festival, ten students from MEA got a really exciting opportunity to work with Bjork. The Biophilia School Programme offered students from MEA and Newall Green High School an opportunity to be the first in the world to explore the ideas showcased in Biophilia. Over the course of five days, students explored new instruments and technologies, and learnt through participation and collaboration, developing practical skills in creativity and composing new work. When asked what the students thought of the week, they said “Wow", "Brilliant", "Fantastic”.