British Airways’ Talent leader Melissa Richardson receives MBE in New Year’s honours

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Melissa Richardson, formerly known as Melissa Kose, holds the position of Senior Emerging Talent Manager within the Strategic Resourcing team at British Airways. She has recently been honored with an MBE in The King’s New Year’s Honours List for 2024, in recognition of her exemplary contributions to Early Careers in Aviation. This prestigious award applauds her remarkable dedication to advancing British Airways’ acclaimed emerging talent programs, which furnish work experience and job opportunities for young individuals across the United Kingdom.

Mel, an alumna of Wrotham Secondary School in Sevenoaks, commenced her journey with the airline in 2012 as an apprentice. Since then, she has ceaselessly worked towards advancing and championing British Airways’ vision for emerging talent. Her responsibilities include engaging and motivating over 175,000 young people to contemplate a career in aviation, facilitating them in realizing their potential, and elevating the profile of the airline’s award-winning graduate, apprentice, business placement, and work experience initiatives. Collaborating closely with various teams within the airline, Mel has addressed skill gaps and implemented novel early career opportunities, such as specialized graduate and apprenticeship programs. She also spearheaded campaigns designed to inspire and attract future talent to the airline.

Demonstrating British Airways’ commitment to fostering future talent and ensuring equal opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds, Mel played a pivotal role in initiating the airline’s partnership with The Prince’s Trust earlier in the year. This collaboration resulted in the launch of the flagship “Get into Aviation with British Airways” program, supporting young people across London in securing a career in the industry through work experience or one of British Airways’ apprenticeship programs.

Mel additionally played a key role in the launch of Speedbird-Z, a dedicated student website offering e-learning modules. Accessed by over 17,000 students to date, this online platform enables individuals to pose questions to British Airways mentors and express their interest in applying for work experience placements across the airline.

Expressing her gratitude upon receiving the MBE, Melissa Richardson stated, “I am truly honored and extremely humbled to have been awarded an MBE for Services to Early Careers in Aviation. I am very fortunate that my job aligns with my passion, and I have had the privilege of shaping the lives of numerous students, uplifting aspirations, and collaborating with young people from diverse backgrounds over the last decade. I am eager to leverage the opportunities this award brings to continue supporting the next generation.”

In response to the recognition, Lisa Tremble, Chief People, Corporate Affairs, and Sustainability Officer, remarked, “I am delighted that Melissa has been acknowledged for her outstanding contributions to our business and wider society in Services to Early Careers in Aviation. Her enduring enthusiasm for inspiring today’s youth to consider a career in our thriving industry is contagious, and she serves as a true inspiration to us all.”

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