Businesses within Gatwick Airport's local region are set to be boosted through the airport's plans to provide new, targeted business opportunities, should its Northern Runway plans be successful.
From today, local businesses can register their interest in working with Gatwick as a supplier and sign up to future newsletters, via a simple form on the airport's website. This comes as Gatwick develops a new strategy to ensure the airport's procurement and supply chain spending targets businesses based in the region - building on the GBP100 million spent across the region in 2019.
Small and medium-sized businesses can register to provide Gatwick and its supply chain with a range of services, including construction, facilities management, IT projects, workwear, utilities, distribution and HR services, among many others, and must be based within RH, BN, CR, KT, TN or GU postcodes.
Richard Lennard, Economic Partnerships Manager, Gatwick Airport said: 'Gatwick has been a major driver for the local and regional economy for several decades, as well as supporting the wider UK economy. We plan to maximise the benefits we provide for local people, communities and businesses through the development of a range of supply chain initiatives that aim to ensure the airport's procurement and supply chain spending targets businesses based in the region.'
Jeff Alexander, Chief Executive, Gatwick Diamond Initiative said: 'Today's announcement provides a significant opportunity for smaller businesses across our region to benefit from access to Gatwick's supply chain. Businesses that have previously worked within the Gatwick supply chain have flourished and we welcome Gatwick opening up this opportunity for more businesses to be able to participate as our economy rebuilds following the pandemic.'
In September, Gatwick launched its public consultation into plans to bring its Northern Runway into routine use alongside its Main Runway, enabling the airport to significantly increase its capacity by 2038.
As part of its Northern Runway plans, Gatwick has developed an Outline Employment, Skills and Business Strategy which, among other things, details initiatives to use its procurement process to provide as many opportunities as possible for local businesses to be included in the airport's supply chains, as well as encouraging investment in local businesses.
Alongside supporting local businesses, Gatwick expects to generate 18,400 new jobs if its Northern Runway plans are successful, providing a further boost to the regional economy.
Gatwick has started a 12-week public consultation on the Northern Runway plans, which closes on 1 December. Full consultation materials are available on the www.gatwickairport.com/futureplans web pages along with a virtual exhibition and an option to book a telephone surgery with project experts or to request a virtual briefing for local stakeholder groups.
About Gatwick Airport
Gatwick is the UK's second largest airport and flies a range of both short and long-haul point-to-point services. The airport is a vital piece of the UK's national infrastructure and is also a major driver for both the regional and national economies. In 2019, a new long-term partnership was formed with VINCI Airports which purchased a 50.01% stake in the airport.
About VINCI Airports
VINCI Airports, the world's leading airport operator, manages 45 airports in 12 countries in Europe, Asia and on the American continent. Though its expertise as a comprehensive integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and operates airports, leveraging its investment capacity, international network and know-how to optimise operational performance, modernise airports and manage their environmental transition. In 2016, VINCI Airports was the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy aimed at achieving net zero emissions over its entire network looking to 2050. All information available on www.vinci-airports.com
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www.linkedin.com/company/vinci-airports/
About Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)
GIP manages the remaining 49.99% interest in Gatwick, is an independent infrastructure investor that makes equity investments in high quality infrastructure assets in the energy, transport and water/waste sectors. GIP has US$68 billion of Assets under Management. Its 41 portfolio companies operate in over 51 countries with more than 67,000 employees and generate annual revenues of circa US$51 billion. For more information on GIP please visit http://global-infra.com
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