More than 150 local leaders from across the southeast discussed the future of the economy at the second London Gatwick Economic Summit last week.
Business and trade minister Kevin Hollinrake MP, the airport’s CEO, Stewart Wingate, and new London Gatwick Chair, Baroness Margaret Ford of Cunninghame OBE, all led debates at the event.
Minister Hollinrake highlighted that London Gatwick’s economy is a key gateway to the UK for both tourists and overseas investors, and that partnership working across all sectors and industries offered the opportunity to grow the economy further.
Baroness Ford led a discussion on the economic advantages delivered through improved infrastructure, including showcasing the opportunities London’s new Elizabeth Line provided for local people and the local economy.
Gatwick summit
Stewart Wingate highlighted the airport’s own plan to improve the airport’s infrastructure by bringing its Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway. The plan would deliver 14,000 new jobs and inject £1 billion extra into the region’s economy every year.
Stewart also announced that London Gatwick will support an Invest Gatwick Diamond stand at UKREiiF 2024 in Leeds. This platform will showcase the region’s investment potential among over 10,000 global industry professionals attending, including investors, developers, occupiers and agents, all working in the global real estate and infrastructure community.
London Gatwick instigated the inaugural economic summit last year to bring together key stakeholders to discuss driving long-term, sustainable economic growth and future inward investment, following the impact the pandemic had on the region. As an economic anchor for the region, London Gatwick is committed to being a partner and advocate for a thriving, resilient economy – a core goal in the airport’s Second Decade of Change sustainability policy.
Delegates attending this year’s event at the airport’s Hilton Hotel included those representing local authorities, businesses, developers, education providers, and business forums from across the South East.
Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive Officer, London Gatwick, said: “Our Economic Summit is designed to find new ways to unlock the region’s long-term economic potential. It was great to see so many of the South East’s top economic and business leaders in one room. Our region has many economic benefits to offer investors and I’m delighted that London Gatwick is helping showcase these at one of the country’s premier investment events.”
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