26.07.2021, 17:21
Supporting Covid-19 Testing with Flexible Staffing
Cignpost Diagnostics has extended a staffing partnership with ABM to include ‘ExpressTest’ Covid-19 testing centres at Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh airports, and multiple retail locations.
The announcement follows the deployment of employees from Blackjack Promotions, ABM’s flexible staffing solutions business for the travel retail and experiential sector, at testing sites earlier this year.
ABM will supply over 1,500 team members – a thousand of whom will be based at Heathrow Airport, with others located at Gatwick and Edinburgh airports, and at shopping centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Newcastle.
The American multinational facility services provider will additionally provide Cignpost with training facilities and a shuttle bus for transporting staff into the terminal for training.
Within its new warehousing facilities at London’s Heathrow Airport, ABM will also store testing equipment which can be easily distributed into the airport and to a new drive through testing operation at the Terminal 4 long stay.
Services to be provided under the new contract include carrying out swab tests, car park marshalling and on-site administration which includes checking samples are collected correctly and sent to laboratories efficiently and safely. In addition, the contract also includes some office-based roles which oversee the “Fit to Fly” certification process.
Rob Stefanovic, Account Director in ABM’s UK aviation business, says: “We are immensely proud and delighted to extend our partnership with Cignpost Diagnostics. This has been an opportunity for us to diversify our business and showcase the pool of incredible, talented people that we have in our team.
“Securing this long term partnership is a true testament to the work we’ve delivered and in doing so, we’ve been able to protect the jobs of our team members, which has been absolutely crucial during such a time of uncertainty.”
Christian Corney, Cignpost ExpressTest CEO, adds: “Since working with us earlier this year, ABM’s team has demonstrated its world-class skills and expertise and has been instrumental in helping us deliver fast and accurate COVID-19 tests at the nation’s primary airports.
“As we hope for further lifting of restrictions over the coming months and look forward to welcoming more people back to airports and shopping centres we are delighted to continue our partnership with ABM.”
In 2020, ABM established an Expert Advisory Council, which includes external leading experts in infectious disease and industrial hygiene to advise on many aspects of its UK business.
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