A FATHER-to-be has landed on his feet working at the Terminal 2 site, just weeks after joining the Heathrow construction academy.

Apprentice Sean Allen, 27, of Harlington Road East, Feltham, was unemployed for nearly eight months when his local job centre spotted the opportunity which launched his career.

Since June, he has worked hard to complete the pre-employment training course and has been taken on by HLS Installations as a trainee dryliner, building internal walls in T2.

After being accepted into the academy, life started falling into place for Sean, and girlfriend Monica Mendes, 23, who are expecting their first child on Valentine’s Day next year.

Sean said: “I was nervous as I wasn’t working and then everything happened at the right time. I have landed on my feet with Heathrow Academy and HLS. One day I can tell my children I helped build this (T2).”

Heathrow is working with councils and job centres to raise awareness of job opportunities for local people through the academy.

Three courses run monthly in retail, construction and aviation and logistics, starting with the basics to help people get back into working life.

Candidates are screened to ensure they have the right to work in the UK and checks to secure an airside pass. They sit numeracy and literacy assessments, and go through an interview process.

Successful candidates enrol on a course and do classroom based projects, and study for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) examination, as well as first aid health and safety training, and manual handling of machinery.

During the course, prospective employers talk to the candidates and trainees receive on-the-job training. Sean was taken under the wings of a senior worker at HLS.

Sean added: “Heathrow are doing their bit to help people get work. If it wasn’t for the airport there would be a lot of unemployment.”

During the Chronicle’s visit to T2 we were able to see how well work is progressing. The three main areas; – check-in, security and baggage – are in place and all linked with a triple wave roof.

We are told everything remains on track for a spring 2014 opening.