Welcome Airport Services is a leader in the aviation industry, providing ground handling services to dozens of airlines from all over the world. It is the largest handling agent in Poland, by the volume of carriers served. The company’s employees are responsible on a day-to-day basis for coordinating flight operations, loading and unloading aircraft, operating specialised airport equipment, cleaning work on board aircraft, as well as assisting people with disabilities and helping passengers at airport information points. Today, Welcome Airport Services already employs more than 1,800 people at Poland’s largest airports: Warsaw, Gdańsk, Poznań, Kraków, Katowice, Szczecin and Warsaw Modlin.

CHALLENGE

Rebuilding the aviation industry in Poland! The aviation industry is one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that the pandemic has depleted its revenue by up to 90%, resulting in the paralysis of the industry and significant job losses. Today, despite the return to travel, carriers as well as airports are facing huge staff shortages.

- The paralysis of the aviation industry during the COVID-19 pandemic meant that we had to part with a lot of staff members. This has had the long-term effect of reducing the motivation to work in our industry, particularly because of concerns about job stability – something we are facing today. However, I can assure you that during this time we have built a business model that protects jobs and employees and guarantees job security. We know that if we want to continue to grow, we need to invest in people - says Krzysztof Zalewski, Director of the HR Division at Welcome Airport Services. He also adds: We contacted the Jobhouse employment agency to help us build a team for aircraft ground handling.

SOLUTION: building the Welcome Airport Services team with the support of #JobhouseTeam

The most important objective of our cooperation was to recruit airport ground handlers quickly and efficiently. Our cooperation started with two job positions: a ramp handler, namely the person who sorts, transports and loads and unloads luggage to and from the aircraft, and a cleaner, namely the person who prepares the aircraft for flight. Contrary to appearances, these are not easy recruitment processes, as they involve a number of security-related restrictions. Candidates must be of good repute, undergo complex training, and have passes issued. At the same time, it is a unique job – the hustle and bustle of the terminal, the sound of planes taking off, and the adrenaline involved is something you won’t encounter in any other workplace.

As part of our cooperation:

• we carefully analysed the Client’s needs – before we started searching for employees, we held as many as 4 meetings - 2 in person and 2 online, and exchanged a lot of phone calls and emails in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the Client, the specific nature of work, the expectations placed on candidates, the formal requirements, and the recruitment team, its working style, needs and capabilities;
• we designed an optimal cooperation model - due to the specific nature of work at the airport, standard solutions were not an option. We, therefore, applied a hybrid solution combining the advantages of temporary work and permanent recruitment, giving the Client and candidates flexibility and security, as well as optimising the cost of employment and increasing the chances of long-term employee retention;
• we also provided the Client with our recommendations on salary levels, which were fortunately taken into account, so that we were able to attract potential candidates and reduce turnover in the team;
• we analysed job descriptions, agreeing with the Client the most relevant competences;
• based on these, we prepared advertisements and selected sources of candidates;
• within the recruitment process, as part of the price of the service, we placed and regularly refreshed advertisements on all possible job portals, in our social media channels (on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram using modern solutions - videos, instastories and reels), Facebook groups and on our website;
• we also contacted people from our database;
• we prepared a communication strategy for social media and an advertising campaign with a video promoting job offers at Welcome Airport Services;
• we contacted potential candidates by telephone and instant messaging on an ongoing basis, verifying key competences.

RESULTS

Just one week after signing the contract with Welcome Airport Services, we presented the first candidates. From February to July 2022, we provided more than 100 of them, with another group of people starting training and work each week.

- During a number of meetings and discussions, we got to know the Client’s needs well. We found out who they were looking for and why, and what challenges they were facing. When discussing the project, I noticed that we had similar values. I like helping companies for which people are important. Welcome invests in the development and competences of its employees and is keen to create a stable team. I am proud that we are part of a project through which we are rebuilding the aviation industry in Poland - says Natalia Bogdan, CEO of Jobhouse.

WHY DID WELCOME AIRPORT SERVICES CHOOSE JOBHOUSE TO WORK WITH?

- When opting for external recruitment, we look for proven business partners. I have been following the development of Jobhouse for years. I remember my first meeting with Natalia Bogdan – I was preparing for a conversation with an expert from TVN, but Natalia surprised me with a very open and direct approach - says Krzysztof Zalewski, Director of the HR Division at Welcome Airport Services. He also adds: I greatly value cooperation with Jobhouse for their direct contact, high quality service and understanding of our industry.