Business support
Heathrow handles 40% of the UK’s business air travellers (20 million business passengers each year) and is the country’s largest port by value of freight.
We work to ensure local companies benefit from these export opportunities by supporting, for example, Gateway Asia which supports companies to develop trade links with China and India.
Over 320 businesses operate within Heathrow’s boundary, with thousands more servicing and supplying the airport. We support local businesses to access airport supply chain opportunities through the annual Heathrow Meet the Buyers event. Run since 1997 in partnership with local authorities and business to business, this connects local companies with Heathrow-based businesses to discuss procurement opportunities in person.
Heathrow's impact on the economy and our role in supporting local businesses are described in Towards a sustainable Heathrow - A Focus on the Economy (955KB PDF).
Our strategy
We aim to support local businesses through the following objectives:
1. Enhance Heathrow's contribution to local businesses' export opportunities
Goal: Increase the number of local businesses accessing export opportunities as a result of Heathrow's international connections
2010 Key actions
- Provide financial support to extend Gateway Asia into Slough and Spelthorne.
- Support Gateway Asia to help local companies win £1.8 million new business.
2. Enhance Heathrow's contribution to local procurement
Goal: Increase the number of local companies that win business linked to Heathrow.
2010 Key actions
- Host the Heathrow Meet the Buyers event.
3. Support local business development
Goal: Enhance the contribution of chambers of commerce and other business support organisations to Heathrow's local economy.
2010 Key actions
- Provide financial support for:
- Hillingdon, Hounslow, Surrey and Thames Valley chambers of commerce.
- West London Business.
- Slough Business Community Partnership.
