London’s Heathrow expansion plans to include Merseyside firms

TIN news:       London's Heathrow Airport has invited Merseyside firms to join its supply chain, ahead of its £15.6bn runway extension plan.
 
The extension will help suppliers procure opportunities worth £15.6bn, along with thousands of construction jobs, reported Liverpool ECHO.
 
In June, the Airports Commission chose construction of a third runway at Heathrow over other options including the extension of an existing runway at Heathrow, and a second runway at Gatwick Airport, to expand Britain's aviation capacity.
 
A third runway is also estimated to add up £12.5bn top economic growth, while leading to creation of 15,300 jobs for Liverpool and North West through tourism, foreign investments and exports.
"Heathrow's expansion is going to be one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects."
 
The airport is now seeking to engage the regions with plans of more domestic airport slots and involving the local businesses in its supply chain needs.
 
In this connection, Heathrow is holding a Business Summit North on 15 October in Leeds to allow small regional firms to engage with Heathrow supply chain.
 
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye was quoted by the publication as saying: "Heathrow's expansion is going to be one of the UK's largest infrastructure projects.
 
"We'll be investing £15.6bn in private financing to create tens of thousands of skilled jobs while we build.
 
"A diversified supply chain with an emphasis on small firms is going to be key to delivering it."
 
According to the publication, Heathrow extended its supply chain to all parts of the UK during its Terminal 2 extension project, and plans to do the same with its third runway.
 
The Heathrow airport expansion plans are being backed by Liverpool John Lennon Airport CEO Andrew Cornish, Merseytravel CEO David Brown, Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson, Liverpool & Sefton Chambers of Commerce, Riverside MP and chair of the Transport Select Committee Louise Ellman, and Knowsley North and Sefton East MP George Howarth.
 
In this connection, Heathrow is holding a Business Summit North on October 15 in Leeds to allow small firms in the region to engage with Heathrow supply chain.