Category: Keith Williams

Better By Design for British Airways

PRNEWS Admin Leave a comment

For the first time British Airways has chronicled its rich advertising history in a new book ‘Better by Design: Shaping the British Airways Brand’ written by its museum curator, Paul Jarvis.

The book’s publication comes just weeks after it was revealed that British Airways had topped the 2015 Superbrands list, the annual ranking of brand strength in the UK. The airline secured the number one spot for the Consumer Superbrand category, for the second year in a row, as well as taking the accolade of number one Business Superbrand.

The lavishly illustrated full-colour book charts the development of the British Airways brand and features print advertisements, billboards and brochure covers through the ages, taken from the airline’s archive.

Decade by decade Jarvis explores the evolution of advertising, interiors and uniforms and offers a unique insight into a bygone era of travel, when flying was the preserve of the rich and the world was opening up to the possibility of commercial travel.

The book analyses how these elements have shaped the airline’s identity since precursor airlines BOAC and BEA came together for form British Airways in 1974.

Paul Jarvis, British Airways’ museum curator and author of the book, said: “The book looks back on how airlines promoted themselves in earlier decades – it’s really quite incredible to see how much air travel has changed in such a short space of time.”

Keith Williams, executive chairman, said: “There are three essential ingredients which make up the British Airways brand: British style, thoughtful service and flying know how. This book covers off each milestone and tells the story of how promotion of our brand has changed over the decades. Although our advertising campaigns have changed over the decades the promise of To Fly. To Serve remains the same.”

‘Better by Design: Shaping the British Airways Brand’ by Paul Jarvis is published by Amberley and is available from April 15 from bookstores and online.

British Airways’ Apprentices Prepare for Lift-off

PRNEWS Leave a comment

A team of nine British Airways’ apprentices, based at Heathrow, has been selected as a finalist of the Brathay Apprentice Challenge 2014.

This prestigious nationwide award recognises, among other attributes, achievement in team building and communication, both essential skills for those starting out in their careers.

After three months of competition between more than 100 teams of apprentices from around the country, eight teams were selected as finalists for impressing the judges with their energy, enthusiasm and commitment.

The British Airways team was commended for its voluntary work at Orione Care, a home for older people in Kingston, and organising a community project at the Willow Tree Centre in Harefield which involved clearing land and planting trees following a storm. The team also attended several careers fairs and spoke at schools in order to promote the value of apprenticeships and the benefits of the British Airways scheme to school leavers.

Francesca Catling, 19, from Hillingdon, a member of the apprentice team, said: “I am thrilled that we’ve been chosen to compete in the final of the Brathay Challenge. Joining the British Airways’ apprenticeship scheme has been a very valuable experience for me and reaching the final of the competition is the icing on the cake. I would encourage other school leavers to investigate the opportunities offered by apprenticeships – it’s really allowed my career to take-off!”

In a final push to show-case their organisational skills and raise money for Comic Relief, the British Airways team has organised a comedy event at the Concorde Club in Cranford on May 23. Eastenders’ Shane Ritchie will be hosting the event that features, among others, the talents of Tim Vine.

The competition culminates in a series of team building, logistical and physical challenges at Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters where the apprentice team of the year will be announced on June 11.

In 2014 British Airways will employ 185 apprentices across the business, with areas ranging from engineering and operations, to IT, finance and project management.

Keith Williams, British Airways’ CEO said: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way or providing young people with a combination of on-the-job training and theoretical education. They are a great foundation for a whole range of skilled careers at British Airways and we are proud to offer them, and proud of our team for reaching this year’s Brathay Apprenticeship final.”

Since 2010, more than 500 students have begun an apprenticeship, with many graduating to permanent roles with the airline. The airline is always keen to encourage more young people to apply for apprenticeships: more information can be found at www.ba.com/careers.

British Airways’ Apprentices Prepare for Lift-off

PRNEWS Leave a comment

A team of nine British Airways’ apprentices, based at Heathrow, has been selected as a finalist of the Brathay Apprentice Challenge 2014.

This prestigious nationwide award recognises, among other attributes, achievement in team building and communication, both essential skills for those starting out in their careers.

After three months of competition between more than 100 teams of apprentices from around the country, eight teams were selected as finalists for impressing the judges with their energy, enthusiasm and commitment.

The British Airways team was commended for its voluntary work at Orione Care, a home for older people in Kingston, and organising a community project at the Willow Tree Centre in Harefield which involved clearing land and planting trees following a storm. The team also attended several careers fairs and spoke at schools in order to promote the value of apprenticeships and the benefits of the British Airways scheme to school leavers.

Francesca Catling, 19, from Hillingdon, a member of the apprentice team, said: “I am thrilled that we’ve been chosen to compete in the final of the Brathay Challenge. Joining the British Airways’ apprenticeship scheme has been a very valuable experience for me and reaching the final of the competition is the icing on the cake. I would encourage other school leavers to investigate the opportunities offered by apprenticeships – it’s really allowed my career to take-off!”

In a final push to show-case their organisational skills and raise money for Comic Relief, the British Airways team has organised a comedy event at the Concorde Club in Cranford on May 23. Eastenders’ Shane Ritchie will be hosting the event that features, among others, the talents of Tim Vine.

The competition culminates in a series of team building, logistical and physical challenges at Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters where the apprentice team of the year will be announced on June 11.

In 2014 British Airways will employ 185 apprentices across the business, with areas ranging from engineering and operations, to IT, finance and project management.

Keith Williams, British Airways’ CEO said: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way or providing young people with a combination of on-the-job training and theoretical education. They are a great foundation for a whole range of skilled careers at British Airways and we are proud to offer them, and proud of our team for reaching this year’s Brathay Apprenticeship final.”

Since 2010, more than 500 students have begun an apprenticeship, with many graduating to permanent roles with the airline. The airline is always keen to encourage more young people to apply for apprenticeships: more information can be found at www.ba.com/careers.