Heathrow expands links to South West businesses

Heathrow has strengthened its ties to the South West during meetings between over 50 local businesses and the airport’s top suppliers today.

For the second year running, the South West Business Summit helped small and medium-sized businesses understand how they can connect with real supply chain opportunities and play a bigger role in the offsite construction of an expanded Heathrow.

In collaboration with the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, the event aimed to help businesses across the region take advantage of the work being spread across the UK both now and during construction of a third new runway and associated infrastructure.

The Summit allowed businesses to network and trade with each other, meet the airport’s supply chain and meet with the Department for International Trade to explore exporting opportunities.

Held in Somerset, the South West Summit was the first stop in what is set to be airport’s biggest regional supply chain tour.

In 2017, Heathrow held seven Summits across the UK, and to date an estimated £93.4 million of new deals have been won by businesses as a result of the partnerships formed at the events. In 2018, Heathrow will be visiting 10 UK regional hubs.

Heathrow Director of Communications, Nigel Milton, said: “We are working hard to ensure the economic benefits of an expanded Heathrow are spread across the UK, and our Business Summits play a huge role in this.

“Heathrow will use offsite construction and we are looking to innovative British companies – many of which we know are based in the South West and already working on major projects including Hinkley – to help Heathrow achieve new standards of delivery and sustainability .”

Taunton Deane MP, Rebecca Pow said: “I am delighted that Heathrow will be launching their national Business Summit programme in Taunton, shining a light on the quality SMEs that exist across my constituency and the wider South West region.

“Heathrow expansion is predicted to create up to £10.2 billion in economic benefits and up to 12,300 new jobs for the South West, so it is important that local businesses are made aware of the opportunities now on the horizon to ensure they can forge connections for the future; not just at Heathrow but with projects across the country.”