Nearly a thousand business leaders gathered for the biggest ever celebration of the small companies from London and beyond who power the UK’s hub airport.
Heathrow’s 27th Business Summit brought together the best of British business at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, from entrepreneurs and start-ups to family-run firms and household names.
The annual summit serves as a key platform for SMEs to connect with existing Heathrow suppliers, share insights and explore new opportunities to join the airport’s expanding supply chain.
Heathrow currently invests over £1 billion annually in its supply chain and has plans to double that to £2 billion from 2027 — meaning the potential for SME involvement is greater than ever.
As private investment at Heathrow grows, the airport is ensuring that local and smaller businesses – which already make up 60% of the supply chain – continue to feel the benefit, underpinning jobs and economic growth.
From family-owned businesses to innovative start-ups, SMEs both locally to the airport and across the country play a vital role in the UK economy by keeping over 80 million passengers and over £215bn of trade on the move at Heathrow every year. 
The summit was held in partnership with local chambers of commerce and business groups and included speeches from Heathrow’s Chief Executive, Thomas Woldbye and Lord David Blunkett. There were also panel discussions led by Heathrow’s senior representatives and suppliers showcasing procurement prospects. (....)