Region to host first Northern Heathrow event

Heathrow is set to hold a supply chain event in Leeds in October, to enable businesses around the country to benefit from its growth.

The Heathrow Business Summit North, which will take place on October 15, in partnership with the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, will be the first supply chain event held outside of the capital.

Last week, the Airports Commission made its final recommendation to Government that a third runway be built at Heathrow, clearing another hurdle to expansion of the UK’s largest airport.

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Business leaders in Yorkshire welcomed the news, with Leeds Chamber of Commerce president Gerald Jennings saying extra capacity at Heathrow will secure the “future vibrancy and growth of the region”.

In his first speech since the announcement, Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said the airport will now push forward to ensure small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) across the UK can benefit from the expansion.

He told the Runways UK conference: “With expansion, we will create tens of thousands of skilled jobs while we build, as well as when we have built – skills that will leave a legacy of construction excellence in this country that can be sold all round the world.”

The airport is now working to develop a procurement strategy for the £15.6bn in private investment that will deliver new hub.

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A Procurement Forum will also be formed, with representatives from a range of sectors to “champion and challenge” the airport’s strategy.

Expanding Heathrow is expected to create up to £211bn of economic growth and 190,000 new British jobs across the country.

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