UK. Aviation services provider ABM has been selected by Cignpost ExpressTest to fulfil resourcing needs at COVID-19 testing sites at Heathrow, Gatwick and Edinburgh airports. The partnership also extends to various retail sites across the UK.
The tie-up follows in the wake of ABM supplying staff from its Blackjack Promotions business earlier this year to provide an agile manpower resource to help at the testing sites.
Under the new agreement, ABM will continue its support of Cignpost with the supply of over 1,500 team members. About 1,000 of these will be based at Heathrow with the others spread across Gatwick and Edinburgh airports, and shopping centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Newcastle.
In addition to staffing support at Heathrow, ABM will also provide Cignpost with training facilities and a shuttle bus to transport staff into the terminal for training.
Within its new warehousing facilities at Heathrow Airport, ABM will also store testing equipment which can be easily distributed into the airport and to a new drive-through testing operation in the Terminal 4 long stay facility.
Services provided by ABM staff 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.
ABM Aviation Business Account Director Rob Stefanovic said: “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.”
Cignpost ExpressTest CEO Christian Corney said: “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.”
