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BAA Jobs for 2018

Want to work at Heathrow Airport in 2018? Read below to find the hundreds of BAA jobs awaiting you at BAA Heathrow Airport…

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BAA Jobs – What’s to know?

Hustle and bustle is what life at the airport is all about. The comings and goings of travelers from all around the world happen in the halls of Heathrow Airport and its sister airports. It’s a slice of life for anyone with a suitcase; it’s also why staffing such a place is an important part of keeping the machine well oiled, functioning on time, and at its best no matter the circumstances. BAA jobs are about more than just bringing home a paycheck — they give workers a sense of purpose. It’s why the best employees have their careers take off with BAA Heathrow jobs.

BAA Jobs Locations

BAA Heathrow, now known more commonly as Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited, owns and operates four of the United Kingdom’s British airports. Among them are, London Heathrow Airport, Aberdeen Airport, Glasgow Airport, and Southampton Airport. While Heathrow is the company’s main business, the BAA’s enormous influence stretches well beyond the UK. BAA is one of the largest transport companies in the world, and started its management of British travel nearly 50 years ago. The company still holds percentages of Ferrovial Group, a Spanish firm specializing in the design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of transport, urban and services infrastructure. BAA also owns some of Qatar Holding and China Investment Corporation and once operated airports in the United States under the BAA name. In the end, the experience of Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited showcases the strengths of a truly international operation accounting for thousands of BAA jobs.

Popular BAA Careers

Work within the company is as diverse as the company itself. Prospective employees will find that the positions are as numerous as the types of travelers that come and go. Some of the most popular BAA careers include positions with BAA security jobs, operations, management, and even BAA apprenticeships. At BAA Heathrow alone, the airport manages 82 airlines headed to 180 destinations. However, there is more to this company than an online application. The BAA Heathrow Academy’s approach actually recruits and hires the best people for the businesses that make up the greater whole. Heathrow International Airport is made up of retail, construction, aviation, and logistics companies that feed into a larger part of the travel machine. Within each academy, vacancies are listed by the requirements needed, ensuring that every person interested understands what that position entails.
[indeedjobroll title=”British Airways Openings” query=”British Airways”]
Most importantly, BAA jobs are about more than just the national economy. The company is focused on making a home in the UK a better place to live and work. Heathrow Airport is the UK’s largest single site employer, and almost half of the employees live somewhere nearby. Local people are among the first recruits considered in the hiring process, and are encouraged to submit their resume’s for any and all positions they feel qualified for. BAA and Heathrow Airport also work with local schools, to raise awareness about the apprenticeships available now that can turn into long-term careers later. The unemployed also have a place to turn to in the community. BAA careers often offer the leg-up many are waiting for, thanks to some award-winning programs. Right now, about 76,000 employees go to work at Heathrow every day, ready for a changing environment full of challenges and rewards only working with the public can deliver.

BAA Jobs Benefits

There are also some charming benefits to working with Heathrow and making a BAA career a priority. A pension that works to benefit each and every employee, as employees will contribute five percent of their salary, and the company will provide another ten. Plus, employees will not have to look far for guidance on financial planning, legal, and relationship problems. The company provides confidential assistance programs that are free of charge and available 24/7. Another major benefit is comprehensive health care. In a world of uncertainties, the company wants to make sure employees and their dependents are covered. Employees with private plans will be offered a reimbursement for half the cost.
In the end, there are few reasons not to work for BAA Heathrow. By taking the leap into the world of travel, no employee will be disappointed with all they can accomplish.

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Air hostess training and requirements

Air hostess training (a.k.a. cabin crew training)

There isn’t a strict education required for becoming an air hostess (besides a GCSE level in English and maths for most companies), but taking air hostess training will increase your chance of being hired. Some courses will provide you with training which is similar to the air hostess training you would receive from an airline company. This gives you a benefit over those who didn’t had some air hostess training, which will likely make you stand out of the crowd. Remember, there are far more applicants than air hostess jobs, and coming in prepared and well trained shows your dedication. And it will help you in the selection process as well, since the airliners’ own air hostess training is frequently used to see who’s the right fit for the job.
All of the air hostess courses cost money, and this is an investment which you should consider. There is no guarantee that getting air hostess training will get you an air hostess job. But as mentioned, it does increase you chances of getting hired. There is however, an excellent air hostess course which you can take online which lowers the costs. Other courses require you to come to a training facility in the UK, which will give you one or more days training on-site. These are however the more expensive courses.

Air hostess requirements

Even though there isn’t a strict educational requirement, there are a number of air hostess requirements in place for you to get the job. These requirements are in place given your workplace (confined space) and responsibilities (you represent the airline company and it’s regulations). A typical British Airways vacancy would have these air hostess requirements:

To be aged 18 or over at the time of application
To be the required height, 5’2 – 6’1 with weight in proportion, and meet the minimum reach requirement
To be medically fit to meet regulatory and role requirements
To have English and Maths to GCSE level or equivalent
To have proven customer service experience
To have a valid passport (with minimum of 12 months before expiry date) allowing unrestricted worldwide travel with the unrestricted right to live and work in the UK
To be prepared to undergo a Criminal Record Check for all countries of residence for six months or more in the previous five years
To be able to provide 5 years of continuous references (educational/employment)
To wear the British Airways uniform to the required standard and be able to conceal any tattoos or body piercings in line with the British Airways uniform standards
To be prepared to remove any headwear in the event of an emergency
Strong experience of working within a customer service environment
Ideally, you have completed in-person air hostess training or online cabin crew training

As you can see, most of these air hostess requirements are pretty standard. There is a strong emphasis on customer service experience. The best way to get this experience, is by getting one of the customer service jobs at Heathrow Airport itself. Sometimes you can start working at the customer service desk for an airline company, and work your way up to air hostess.

Start Your Career

If you fit in the air hostess requirements, and get a decent air hostess training, you will certainly have a good chance for getting your dream job.

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Security Officer jobs at London Heathrow Airport

A Security Officer job at London’s Heathrow airport is a varied task as they help to make sure the airport is not only safe for the thousands of passengers that pass through the airport each day but for their fellow co-workers as well.

A Security Officer may be given the duty of checking a passenger’s travel documents and boarding pass, while another two officers check a traveller’s carry-on and what they may have on them using an X-ray machine and a metal detector.

If the metal detector should light up and beep, the passenger will be subjected to a pat down before being allowed to proceed. The same thing goes for their carry-on luggage. If the Security Officer operating the X-ray machine sees something they find suspicious the bag will be taken aside and searched thoroughly by another member of the security staff.

As the vast majority of passengers are clued up on what you are allowed to take with you on an aircraft these days, a key role for the security team is to understand a passenger’s needs and how they can better provide a professional, courteous service that avoids any unnecessary delays.

Besides working at the security checkpoint, Officers routinely walk around the Terminal to make sure that the building is secure and that any potential risks are immediately taken care of. In the case of an emergency Security Officer will offer assistance in any way they can.

Just like a small city London Heathrow Airport is diverse, fast thinking and always moving forward as it seeks to retain its place as Britain’s number one airport.

The company mission of Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd is to provide passengers with the best possible service available in the world today. As a Security Officer, you will play a key role in our success, by taking pride in your job, while at the same time delivering exceptional service.

Heathrow Airport Security Officers are expected to be warm and courteous to all passengers as they go about their daily duties, reporting back to Security Managers any misgivings or concerns they may have.

Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd recognise and value the contributions our employee’s make towards our success and in return offer competitive wages with a great benefits package that includes an employee assistance programme, private healthcare, pension and travel offers.

As an employer, Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd understands that many people joining us today view the job as a long-term career, which is why we offer a wide range of classes and development prospects to help you advance within the company.

As a Security Officer working for Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, you can expect to earn £22.5K plus benefits, rising to £32,000 after several years of service.

Summary

Reading reviews of present and past security employees at Heathrow Airport you are left with the impression that overall the salary is good and that the balance between work and home life is not bad either.

One big positive that we can take away from this, is that all the employee’s feel as though they have a very secure job for as long as they want it.

Photo courtesy of Heathrow.com.

Jobs at London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world handling 1,400 flights and over 200,000 passengers a day.

This equation adds up to one flight taking off or landing every 45 seconds as Heathrow handles 80 per cent of all long-haul visitors to the United Kingdom.

Heathrow Airport is, in fact, a small city, equivalent in size to Guilford in Surry, employing 76,000 people to ensure that everything runs like clockwork.

Besides working for one of the 80 airlines that serve London Heathrow, we thought we would take a look at some of the less glamorous jobs that keep everything ticking over nicely.

Sales Assistant
With 340 retail outlets at Heathrow Airport, one of the easiest jobs to get it that of a sales assistant in a top end store, newsagent or chemist.

One of the main criteria employers look for in a new hire is personality and how they get along with the public. If you are looking to work for a store selling luxury items such as Louis Vuitton or Burberry, you would be well advised to familiarize yourself with the company and the products you would be selling.

Compensation with a high-end retailer can be anywhere from £8 to £12 per hour to start, along with bonuses.

Kitchen Porter

Landing a job as a Kitchen Porter is often taken as a first step to getting started on a career within the food and hospitality industry. Duties include washing dishes, keeping the kitchen clean, handling deliveries and basic food preparation. Yes, you may be the dogsbody of the kitchen for a while, but many a top chef got their start as a Kitchen Porter.
Working in one of the many restaurants and lounges at Heathrow, you can expect to start at around £8 per hour.

Aircraft Cleaner

As an aircraft cleaner, you will work as part of a team to ensure that toilets, kitchens and crew rest areas are clean. You will also replace head covers, blankets and toiletries.

Aircraft turnaround time is of utmost importance, so as an aircraft cleaner you need to work in a speedy manner while also ensuring that the plane is spotless for the next group of passengers. In order to qualify for this position, you must pass a criminal background check and be proficient in English. Pay rates start from £7.33 per hour.

Baggage Handler

Baggage handler’s duties consist of more than just putting your suitcases on a conveyer belt. Luggage must be sorted for the correct flights, delivered and loaded onto the aircraft, while the reverse applies for arriving flights. As a baggage handler, you are also responsible for placing chocks on the aircraft wheels and sealing off your work area with safety cones.

The job demands that you are physically fit and able to operate ground support vehicles, which may include de-icing machines and aircraft steps.

You are also responsible for the handling of live animals and dangerous cargo.

Proficiency in English is a must as is the ability to pass a criminal background check.

Salary starts from around £7.20 per hour.

Aircraft De-icer

As an aircraft De-icer, you will be responsible for ensuring that all aircraft skins and vehicles are free of ice during the winter months. You will be required to work outdoors during freezing conditions at heights up to 40ft.

You will be required to drive de-icing truck similar in size to fire engines and will be trained in chemical use for de-icing the aircraft. You must also be able to communicate with the cabin crew and pilots in English.

During the off season, you will be given a baggage handling job in order to keep you employed full time.

Salary starts from around £8 per hour.

Every job at London Heathrow Airport requires proof of work eligibility in the United Kingdom, a five-year work history and the ability to pass a criminal background check.
Photo courtesy of Brussels Airport.

Sofitel London Heathrow Airport

The award-winning five-star Sofitel at London Heathrow terminal 5 is more than just a place for the men in suits; it is an oasis in the desert providing a respite for the long-haul weary traveller.

Comprising 605 non-smoking room’s guests are immediately wowed by the hotel’s light filled atrium complete with water features and enough plants to start a rainforest. All rooms have luxury bed linen, plasma TV’s and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Despite being located in one of the world’s busiest airports you will not be disturbed by jet engine noise thanks to the hotels impeccable sound proofing.

Add to this an award winning restaurant, the French, inspired with an Asian twist, La Belle Époque and the opened kitchen, themed Vivre and you have a varied menu that will suit the most discerning guest.

If you are in the mood for afternoon tea or a light lunch, the tea salon is open throughout the day serving 31 varieties of tea from around the world, together with coffee’s, light meals and in-house made pastries.

The Sofitel Heathrow also has two bars, the intimate Perrier-Jouet, Champagne Bar, ideal for a pre-dinner drink or cocktail and the sophisticated Sphere Lounge Bar where you can also grab a quick bite to eat.

If you are looking to relax and de-stress following a long flight, the wellness spa at the Sofitel Heathrow offers 25 different treatments along with the vitality pool, steam room and sauna to help you unwind.

There is also a full gym with cardio machines and free weights for your workout routine, while also being able to catch up on the latest world news.

The Sofitel London Heathrow is the only hotel connected to Heathrow Airport, with a short 100-yard bridge crossing taking you directly into Heathrow’s new terminal 5 British Airways hub, from where you can take walkways directly to the other four terminals.

The Sofitel London Heathrow can also be your gateway to London, with the Heathrow express train whisking you to Paddington Station in just 21 minutes.

Also thanks to a superb motorway network you are only 20 minutes from Wentworth Golf Club and the horse races at Royal Ascot.

Heathrow does, of course, have other hotels around the airport, but they all require either a taxi or a £4.50 ride on the Hoppa Bus to get to the terminals, which makes the Sofitel the right choice for your London break.

Sofitel London Heathrow was voted best UK airport hotel by the readers of Business Traveller Magazine, while other Sofitel Hotels were voted best in their class by Condé Nast Traveller.

Sofitel is owned and operated by French hotel group Accor Hotels, but remains its own unit within the hotel group with 120 properties worldwide.

Location:
Sofitel London Heathrow Airport is located Terminal 5, London Heathrow Airport
TW6 2GD
LONDON
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: (+44)20/87577777
Fax: (+44)20/87577701
Contact email
Check-in from 14h00
Check out up to 12h00

Photos courtesy of Ambernectar 13 and fsse8info .

Heathrow Express

Quick, comfortable and convenient is the way the Heathrow Express train is described by its owners, Heathrow Airport Holding Ltd. Carrying more than five million passengers a year between central London, and one of the world’s busiest airports in just 15 minutes is an incredible feat that makes the Heathrow Express an undeniable success.

The Heathrow Express train makes 150 trips a day between Heathrow Airport and Paddington Railway Station in central London. The train journey takes just 15 minutes to reach Heathrow Central, the stop for Terminals 1 and 3, with Terminal 5 a further four minutes later. For Terminal 4, you need to exit the train at Heathrow Central Station and take the free transfer service to Terminal 4, also a four-minute journey.

All doors on the Heathrow Express open flush with the platform, making for easy wheelchair and rolling luggage access to the train.
On board the train you will find large spacious seats and plenty of storage for your luggage, as well as complimentary 4G, Wi-Fi Internet service to keep you connected as you travel between the airport and London.

First Class passengers have the added benefit of more leg room, complimentary newspapers and magazines as well as a personal table for laptops.

All trains are equipped with monitors that provide information about the journey along with the latest weather and news from the BBC.

Throughout your journey, on-board staff is available to answer any questions or help with requests.

Paddington Station

Paddington Station is bang in the heart of London’s famous West End, Theatre District and has excellent connections with the rest of the city via Hammersmith, City and District Underground rail lines. Paddington is also the London station that services all trains to the Southwest of England and Wales.

Prior to 2016 the Heathrow Express rail link came under criticism for being one of the country’s most expensive train journeys with a one-way ticket costing £22. The operators of the service have listened to the complaints and now offer a discounted fare of £5.50 on weekends and £12.10 during the rest of the week providing tickets are booked 90 days in advance. There are also considerable savings to be had, even if you book just two weeks in advance with Saturday, Sunday travel available for £12.10 and a weekday fare of £16.50.

Heathrow Express Jobs

For Heathrow Express it is a matter of pride that every customer using the service walks away with a positive experience.

The company wants to deliver exceptional customer care and wants their employee’s to feel proud of being a part of a team that delivers a special world-class service.

Heathrow Express is always looking for people who enjoy interacting with the public and take pride in delivering top-notch customer service, while also being able to achieve sales and performance targets.

As an employer, Heathrow Express offers an enviable benefits package and salary with front-line staff working a shift schedule that allows them to work six days with four days off. Heathrow Express provides and exciting work environment while also offering rewards for hard work.

If you are interested in a career with Heathrow Express, click on the link and you will be taken to their current vacancies page.

Photos courtesy of Hugh Llewelyn and Clay Gilliland.

Hugo Boss

When it comes to men’s suits, German fashion house Hugo Boss is right up there with the likes of Italian menswear giants Giorgio Armani, Canali and Ermenegildo Zegna.

The Italians are of course well known for their cutting-edge designs, being trend setters, not only when it comes to men’s and woman’s clothing, but also in the world of house furnishings and sleek sports cars.

Hugo Boss produces clothing with a classic look and feel, a no-nonsense approach to design and manufacturing.

At Hugo Boss quality always comes before quantity, and just like that other German icon Mercedes-Benz, a Hugo Boss suit just oozes a timeless understated elegance.

Today Hugo Boss still battles to overcome a dark image left over from the Second World War.

Given the situation in Germany at the time, you could argue that Boss had little choice but to go along with the political changes that were happening in Germany.

Hugo Boss started his company in the tiny town of Metzingen, just south of Stuttgart in 1923 opening his first factory in 1924.

Initially manufacturing work clothing and raincoats the company struggled until they received a big order from the ‘National Socialist Party’ for shirts.

While the Nazis strength grew in Germany, so did Boss’s business, with the factory now getting orders to produce uniforms for the postal service and the police.

Being a pragmatist, Boss saw the writing on the wall and decided that if his business was to continue growing he would have to become a member of the Nazi party.

Boss joined the Nazi party in 1931 and was rewarded with a contract to produce army uniforms for the Wehrmacht in 1938.

The uniform contract saw his company turn over a million Reichsmarks, five times the amount he was making just two years earlier.

Still just a small to medium sized company, with just 250 workers, Boss like many other German manufacturers found it difficult to hire workers during the war.

Like many other German businesses, Boss used French, prisoners of war, and Polish forced labourers, to produce has clothes.

This black stain on the company still lingers today, despite numerous apologies and the fact that the company contributed to a fund to help compensate forced WWII labourers.

Modern day Hugo Boss became an international success story after the company decided to sponsor Formula One drivers in 1977.

Now a thriving business once more, with an international trademark, Hugo Boss caught the attention of Italian textile giant Mazotto.

In 1991 Mazotto bought a controlling interest in Hugo Boss and made it a part of the Valentino fashion empire.

Today 91% of Hugo Boss is floated on the Frankfurt Börse with the remaining shares owned by a London-based private equity group called Permia.

Permia quickly opened stores in China and the United States, while also diversifying the brand into woman and children’s fashion, along with a fragrance and watch range.

Today Hugo Boss has over a thousand locations that in 2014 generated a net income of 3.5 million euros.

Location
The Hugo Boss store has two locations at Heathrow airport and is located in Terminal Two and Four after the security check point.
Terminal 2, after security next to Kurt Geiger and Paul Smith.
Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8564 8316
Terminal 4, after security, across from World Duty-Free.
Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8897 1431
Photo credit thanks to Jason Ikki and Mads Boedker.

Boots

Unlike in the United States where the word Pharmacy is used for the name of the store where you go to pick up your prescriptions, or over the counter medications, in the UK everyone refers to it as the Chemist.

In fact, you would be hard pressed to distinguish the name chemist from that of Boots, as the two names are so intertwined in the UK, that you could say either and Boots would instantly come to mind.

Boots currently has over 2,500 locations spread around England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and is the number one chemist-led health and beauty retail outlet in the country.

According to Boots website, their mission is: “To be the first choice for pharmacy, health and beauty – caring for people, customers and communities everywhere”.

The story about Boots begins in 1849, when Herbalist, John Boots, opened his first store in Goose Gate, Nottingham, selling remedies described as being a cheaper alternative to traditional medicines.

John Boots was, however, a sickly man, and despite being a chemist, he died in 1860, aged just 45, leaving his widow Mary and son Jesse to run the family business.

With the Second Industrial Revolution now in full swing, the 1870’s saw the working class start to move away from the traditional herbal remedies, and more towards patent drugs that were being heavily advertised.

This prompted Jesse to launch a large advertising campaign in 1887, promoting Boots, as a store that sold traditional medicines at an affordable cost, using the slogan “health for a shilling”.

With business was now booming Boots opened their first department store in downtown Nottingham, on Pelham Street, in 1892.

The public took to the new store immediately, in part thanks to the innovative electric lighting and the now wide variety of fancy goods on offer.

With the outbreak of the First World War Britain lost its access to chemicals from Germany, forcing Boots to put together a team that could manufacture synthetic drugs like aspirin.

The company was soon supplying the government with drugs for their field hospitals, along with water sterilization tablets, that they claimed would kill dysentery, coli, and typhoid and cholera organisms in 30 minutes.

In 1919, agents were appointed in India, to start selling Boots products overseas. This was the start of a growing network that would soon span the globe.

In 1936, we saw the first international branch of Boots open in Wellington, New Zealand.

While speaking at a dinner in Wellington, Jesse’s son, and now company Chairman John Boot said:

“Profit is not our main objective. But we are proud of the great health and domestic service that we have built up, and we believe that we can extend that service gradually in the British Empire and make the benefits of our methods and our organisation accessible… overseas.”

Boots continued to grow both at home and abroad, increasing its market share in Britain, after acquiring competitor Timothy Whites & Taylors 622 stores in 1968.

In 2007 Boots was taken over by Alliance-UniChem making it no longer a one-store high street shop in the city centre, but a big player in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic world.

Now with another big player in the retail Pharmaceutical world to compete against, American drugstore giant Walgreens acquired Boots Alliance, to become a true global health-care leader.

Location
Boots currently has 12 stores at Heathrow Airport, located in Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 for all your travel needs either before or after your flight.

Terminal 2, after security
Opening hours: 05:00 – 22:00
Terminal 2, after security
Opening hours: 05:00 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8759 3866

Terminal 2, Arrivals
Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8384 1006

Terminal 3, before security
Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8897 1817
Terminal 3, after security
Opening hours: 05:30 – 21:30
+44 (0)20 8897 1891
Terminal 3, Arrivals
Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8897 0117
Terminal 4, after security
Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8897 1893
Terminal 4, after security
Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8897 9726
Terminal 4, after security
Opening hours: 06:00 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8897 9726
Terminal 4, Arrivals
Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8897 9726
Terminal 5, before security
Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8321 3473
Terminal 5, after security
Opening hours: Satellite B: 05:30 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8384 1006
Terminal 5, after security
Opening hours: 05:30 – 22:00
+44 (0)20 8384 1006

Photos thank to R/DV/RS and Andrew Stawartz.

Bally

If you were to ask a woman on the street to name a famous shoe manufacturer, the chances are she would say, Bally, before even thinking about Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choo.
Now celebrating their 165th birthday, Bally of Switzerland still ranks among the old school brands of 19th-century.
While the haute couture Parisian houses of Hermes and Louis Vuitton struggled to regain their foothold after the war, Bally was still growing.
A big seller for the Swiss company was a two hundred step handmade shoe called the Scribe.
The Scribe got its name from the Scribe Hotel in Paris, where shoe designer Max Bally resided.
The Bally Company was also a firm believer in getting popular celebrities of the day to endorse your products, knowing that the public would follow suit.
Buoyed by the success of a 1930’s cinema advertisement featuring the silent screen legend Charlie Chaplin, the company introduced a very successful poster campaign using renowned French artist, Bernard Villemot.

The history of Bally is like so many successful ideas by seizing an opportunity when it presented itself.
In the case of Bally, it came about following a visit to Paris by Swiss silk ribbon manufacturer Carl Franz Bally, who during his time in the French capital decided to take back a pair of lace-up boots as a present for his wife.
Not knowing his wife’s exact size, Bally decided to buy 12 pairs of boots in different sizes, with the thought that he could sell the boots that did not fit his wife to other people in the village.
When he discovered how easy it was to sell the boots, Carl together with his brother Fritz decided to get into the shoe business opening Bally& Co from their family home.
The Bally brother’s vision was to use the finest leather available to create shoes that were not only visually stimulating but also functional enough for everyday use.

By 1860 Bally had transformed the tiny village of Schönenwerd located north of the Swiss Alps between Basel and Zurich into a company town, employing 500 people.
Now one of the largest footwear manufacturers in Europe, it was time to expand the operation and open retail stores. The first store opened in Geneva, Switzerland in 1870 and then followed by Montevideo, Uruguay later in the year.
In 1873 the company expanded into Buenos Aires, Argentina, with Paris and London next on the agenda.
The business was now growing rapidly and by 1916 had become one of the world’s first true multinationals, employing 7000 people around the globe.
Bally is still going strong today, with the company’s footprint firmly established in the luxury goods buyers mind, and while no longer a family concern, the business has stuck by their philosophy of using a celebrity to endorse their products.

This was clear when film star Gwyneth Paltrow showed up decked out in Bally clothing to celebrate the opening of their flagship Rodeo Drive location.

Bally products have a reputation for being long-lasting, and while they may seem expensive compared to similar goods, they are quality merchandise, worth every penny.

Location:
Bally can be found in Heathrow Airport Terminals 3 and four after the security check.

Photos permission from Estampermoderne and Robert Sheie.

Bottega Veneta

Italian luxury goods maker Bottega Veneta could not have picked a better location to start making their artisan leather goods than Vicenza, Italy.

Located in the Veneto region of north-eastern of Italy, just 37 miles inland from Venice, and 120 miles east of Milan, Vicenza is the industrial powerhouse of modern day Italy.

While the many textiles and jewellery factories surround the city, the centre is a thriving cosmopolitan mix of high-end stores littering the majestic Palladian Greco-Roman inspired buildings and public squares.

With a ready-made workforce of artisan craftsman on hand Bottega Veneto opened their factory in 1966, with the philosophy of manufacturing goods of the highest quality.

Innovative design combined with contemporary functionality and its commitment to the artisans who produced these goods was symbolized in their intrecciato woven leather design.

In 2001 Bottega Veneta hired German-born designer Tomas Maier to be their creative genius in an attempt to reinvigorate the company.

The former Guy Laroche, Sonia Rykiel and Hermes director went straight to work, reconnecting the company with its roots.

Focalizing his attention on the artisans and craftsman, Maier was able to instil in them the belief, that while the product must come first, they must also be able to move with the times.

High-precision and an attention to detail were what was required in order to turn a piece of leather into a work of art.

Maier also understood the importance of keeping the business in the Veneto region, so that the creativity and innovation could be passed from generation to generation.

Committed to the region, Bottega Veneta opened a state of the art facility in 2001, refurbishing 18th-century villa, close to Juliet’s castles at Montecchio Maggiore.

Set on a 5.5-hectare park, the Italian fashion house also added an eco-friendly addition, with a roof containing 1,200 square metres of solar panels, a rainwater recycling-system, while also using geothermal energy, to heat and cool the building.

The company has also incorporated, along with the University IUAV of Venice, a school to help ensure that Italian artisanal craftsmanship will survive for years to come.

Today Bottega Veneta has come a long way in the world of fashion and design, graduating from being that must have handbag or pair of shoes into a company that produces everything synonymous with having made in Italy stamped on it.

The company now produces a clothing range for both men and woman and has even moved into the furniture business, by incorporating its fancy leather work and stitching into modern household goods.

Not to be outdone by rival Prada, Bottega Veneta has also introduced its own line of eyewear and Jewellery together with a fragrance collection that includes its newest offering Eau Sensuelle.

Bottega Veneta describes their new fragrance as being a youthful adaptation of their signature perfume Bottega Veneta eau de parfum.

Described as having fruity peach like aromas, with a floral bouquet of gardenia and Jasmine, Eau Sensuelle will embrace the moment and transcend time.

Location
You can find Bottega Veneta stores at Heathrow Airport, located in terminal 2 between Bvlgari and Gucci.

Thanks to Eschipul and S. Baker for the photos.