35,000 jobs on Heathrow terminal - graduate jobs

Heathrow Airport operator BAA has announced that the development of the new £2.2 billion Terminal 2 will create 35,000 new jobs over the life of the project, which may include opportunities for graduates.

The announcement was made as Transport Secretary Philip Hammond visited the site.

Up to 5,000 people will be working on the new terminal at peak times, BAA said.

Colin Matthews, chief executive of BAA, said: "At a tough time for the economy, Heathrow's modernisation programme is creating thousands of jobs throughout the UK.

"As the country's only hub airport, Heathrow is vital to the UK economy. It supports more than 75,000 on-airport jobs and thousands more throughout the UK depend on Heathrow's connections to the rest of the world."

The new terminal, which will replace the old Terminal 2 that closed in 2009, is expected to open to passengers in 2014.

Much of the infrastructure for Terminal 2 is being built in factories around the UK.

Cover for the terminal's roof is being built at Kalzip's Merseyside factory, while the steel work is being manufactured, as part of a £48 million contract, by Watson's Steel Structures at its factories in Thirsk in North Yorkshire and Bolton in Greater Manchester.

Copyright Press Association 2011