BUSINESSES in the north are set to pitch their capabilities to major suppliers at Heathrow Airport next month in a bid to join its supply chain.
Local small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) will get a chance to meet with the airport’s biggest suppliers at the first ever Heathrow Business Summit being held in Belfast on Wednesday, June 20.
In collaboration with the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Summit will help businesses take advantage of the work being spread across the UK both now and during construction of a new runway at Heathrow and its associated infrastructure. Businesses will have the opportunity to network and trade with each other, connect with the airport's supply chain and meet with Invest NI to explore exporting opportunities. They will also be able to meet with local colleges to discuss skills and recruitment needs.
The Heathrow Business Summit in Northern Ireland will be the fifth stop in what is set to be Heathrow’s biggest regional supply chain tour in its history. The Heathrow Business Summit 2018 tour schedule will feature summits in Taunton, Colchester, Tees Valley, Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Doncaster and Birmingham, in addition to the flagship Business Summit event held at the airport.
Heathrow expansion director Emma Gilthorpe, said:
“UK businesses of all sizes stand on the brink of a huge opportunity for growth at home and overseas, as Heathrow prepares for expansion – a project set to create tens of thousands of jobs, double the number of regional connections and unlock up to 40 new international routes. We are looking to give more Northern Ireland businesses the confidence and the ability to make the most of working with our major suppliers by opening up access to our supply-chain at events such as the Heathrow Business Summit.”
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive, Ann McGregor, added:
"The event will offer local SMEs the opportunity to connect and trade face-to-face with Heathrow’s supply chain, forging links with some of the UK’s largest organisations and obtaining insight into their procurement processes. We encourage businesses to express their interest as soon as possible so we can match them to the requirements outlined by the supply chain companies."
