STANSTED Airport has announced it will be creating 50 new jobs for female security officers in time for the peak holiday season.

James Hore

STANSTED Airport has announced it will be creating 50 new jobs for female security officers in time for the peak holiday season.

The welcome news for the job market will see a campaign launched to find the new staff who will be given six-month contracts at the Essex airport.

The roles are required to meet the summer peak in passenger numbers and are targeted specifically at women because, under Department for Transport regulations, female security officers are required to search female passengers.

Cathy Brennan, Stansted's recruitment and training manager, said although the airport has similar numbers of male and female security officers, more of the women are in part time positions.

She said: “The nature of the business in the summer means there will be more families flying on their holidays so naturally there will be more females.

“The job will be dealing with people going through security so they will be searching people, bags and working on the X-ray machines.

“It's actually a great place to work - there is never a dull moment.

“Women do tend to see this as a men's role, that's the traditional view, but that is changing and I really would encourage any women interested to get in contact.

“It's ideal for someone who is perhaps returning to the work place after time out having children as they can fit it around their lifestyle.”

Key criteria for applicants include a five-year checkable work history and full colour vision.

The posts involve shift work, normally four to six hours and including early and late shifts, with a basic 240 hours over the six-month period.

Anyone interested in applying can get more information by logging on to www.baa.com/careers and enter vacancy number STN381.

james.hore@eadt.co.uk