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CRAWLEY
BUSINESS GUIDE 2017/18
GATWICK AIRPORT LTD
A CASE STUDY
build a strong local supply chain;
boost business and strengthen
opportunities for employment and
skills development.
As a major economic driver for the
South East, Gatwick directly supports
21,000 on-airport jobs and a further
10,000 airport-related jobs across
the region. It serves as the vital link
to international business for the many
fantastic and varied companies
which have based themselves
in Crawley.
As part of Gatwick’s drive to ensure
local businesses benefit from the
strength and diversity of its £250
million annual capital investment
programme, Gatwick’s team is
active in raising awareness of the
wide variety of opportunities
available to local suppliers.
This includes networking, running
tailored workshops and events, such
as the Gatwick Diamond ‘Meet the
Buyers’ event, which Gatwick has
supported since 2002.
Gatwick is keen to make it as easy
as possible for local companies to
do business at the airport.
As a signatory of the Crawley
Developer and Partner Charter,
Gatwick commits to sourcing labour
from the local community (around
34% of Gatwick employees live
locally), raising local skill levels and
improving the competitiveness and
sustainability of smaller and locally
based firms.
Larger airport suppliers are
encouraged to subcontract within
the area; flexibility with contract
terms and payment methods can
be negotiated to meet the needs of
smaller businesses in particular.
Gatwick has found great benefit in
engaging more proactively with the
local business community, including
encouraging new and innovative
ways of working. Local businesses
understand the area, and on a
practical level deliveries and access
are cheaper, quicker and easier.
Gatwick’s Decade of Change strategy
sets out a ten point sustainability
plan to 2020, encompassing local
economy and community action
plans as well as comprehensive
management plans for environmental
aspects including noise, waste,
water, energy, carbon, air quality,
transport and biodiversity.
Gatwick is one of a small number of
organisations to have been awarded
triple certification to the Carbon
Trust Standard for reducing carbon
emissions and water use, and
improving waste management.
The airport holds the Wildlife Trust’s
Biodiversity Benchmark Award, a
nationally recognised standard for
commitment to biodiversity and
responsible land management.
The Local Economy action plan
forms a key part of the Decade of
Change strategy. It sets the frame-
work for Gatwick’s participation in
a wide variety of regional activities
through active membership of
economic partnerships, helping to