Aviato, the new employment agency at Brussels Airport

The new offices of Aviato , formerly Brussels Airport House, were inaugurated during a convivial ceremony in the presence of all the partners involved in the initiative and a number of illustrious guests. New offices, a new identity and a new strategy to meet the new employment challenges at the Brussels Airport site.

Brussels Airport, a major economic hub

More than 20,000 people work at Brussels Airport every day, in hundreds of different jobs and for more than 260 different employers. Indeed, Brussels Airport is the second largest economic growth centre in Belgium, after the port of Antwerp. These figures are constantly rising, since the demand for employment on the airport site exceeds 500 vacancies.

Back in October 2013, this situation prompted the creation of Brussels Airport House, offering a unique 'one stop' service, at the very heart of the airport terminal, that centralises all the practical information concerning job and training opportunities at Brussels Airport. A joint initiative bringing together private, public and government partners involved in employment and training. The founders of Aviato are VDAB, Actiris, the Province of Flemish Brabant and POM Flemish Brabant, BECI, VOKA, FSTL and Brussels Airport Company.

“Working at Brussels Airport, surrounded by planes, is a dream for many. 20,000 people are living the dream, and in a wide variety of roles. And in the future, many more will join us, largely thanks to Aviato. By connecting employees with employers, Aviato, the fruit of collaboration between a number of sector experts, is the one and unique reference for all those who wish to develop their skills in an exceptional setting in the heart of Europe” Arnaud Feist, Chairman of the Aviato Board of Directors and CEO of Brussels Airport Company.

Aviato, partnering employers and job seekers

Today, Brussels Airport House has become Aviato, breathing new life into its activity to become the benchmark for quality and sustainable employment at the airport for job seekers and employers alike. Its objectives remain the same: attract, support, but also train as many job seekers as possible to meet the needs of employers in and around the airport. Employers who can also use Aviato 's services to recruit, screen and train future candidates for vacancies.

“I am particularly pleased to see the new solutions that we will be able to develop with Aviato for job seekers in Brussels. I see this as an excellent example of private-public collaboration across the region's borders”, CarolineMancel, Assistant General Manager of Actiris.

Training is indeed central to Aviato's long-term strategy.

Aviato has launched customised training programmes in collaboration with VDAB and Actiris, but also with future employers. This training offering includes Dutch language courses, but also technical courses on airport-related professions.

“Aviato is the common denominator that will allow us to pool the combined forces working for employment and training at the airport. Today, there are more than 500 vacancies. To respond effectively and qualitatively, it is essential to work with all partners, across all borders,” Fons Leroy, Managing Director of Vlaamse Dienst voor Arbeidsbemiddeling in Beroepsopleiding (VDAB).

Attracting job seekers to the airport

With brand new offices overlooking the arrivals hall at Brussels Airport, Aviato is closer than ever to job seekers. A team of VDAB and Actiris consultants are on deck daily to welcome those interested in a career at the airport. Aviato also has a brand new website that is also a source of inspiration for job seekers: they can currently consult more than 500 vacancies on the airport site, but also learn how to apply, or check whether they tick the boxes when it comes to language proficiency or whether the airport meets their mobility requirements.

“This partnership between Actiris, VDAB and Aviato is a real opportunity for both job seekers in Brussels and for employers in and around the airport who are massively looking for a skilled workforce. In addition, to increase the chances of job seekers in Brussels getting a job, companies, regardless of whether they are located in Brussels, Flanders or Wallonia, who want to hire Brussels residents, receive a bonus of € 15,900, the activa.brussels”, adds Didier Gosuin , Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, in charge of Economy and Employment.

Find out more on www.aviato.be

Contact:

Simon De Maeseneer

General Manager Aviato

Tel. +32 2 753 50 66

Mobile +32 490 57 33 94

E-mail simon.demaeseneer@aviato.be

Quotes:

Philippe Muyters, Flemish Minister for Employment, Economy, Innovation and Sport: "The airport is a buzzing environment and a very important economic growth hub. Our challenge is to attract enough talent to support this growth. Interregional training and collaboration is the key to addressing it. Thanks to Aviato, everything is pooled together in a point of contact, a one-stop service, which ensures better visibility and greater efficiency.”

Tom Dehaene, member of parliament for the Province of Flemish Brabant and Chairman of POM Flemish Brabant: "I am totally convinced by the added value that Aviato can bring not only to find candidates for the many vacancies, but also to gather and publish clear data on employment at Brussels Airport.”

Jan De Brabanter, Secretary General of UEB (BECI): “I look forward to this new impetus to our private-public collaboration agreement. This new dynamic will make it possible to better meet the needs of companies in and around the airport and of the Brussels labour market. Thanks to Aviato, interregional mobility can be facilitated for Brussels workers and open up workplaces.”

Peter Van Biesbroeck, Voka Managing Director - Kamer van Koophandel Vlaams-Brabant: “With a new name and new offices, we are giving a new lease of life to Aviato's business. While the labour shortage on the job market is affecting more and more companies, we give our full support to Aviato to bring business and job seekers closer together, but also to continue to train current employees. With more than 260 different employers and more than 20,000 employees, Brussels Airport is a driver of economic growth that is crucial for employment in our region and, on a larger scale, throughout the country.”