The Department for Business and Trade’s Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports Gareth Thomas MP, was keynote speaker at the ‘Made in the Midlands, Sold to the World’ exporter roadshow held in November in the Rolls Royce Flight Operations Centre at EMA.

Hosted by the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade, the event brought hundreds of business leaders together with goods and services exporters, trade experts and UK government representatives, to equip them with the tools and knowledge to access new markets and grow internationally. The mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, Claire Ward, also attended and spoke at the event.

EMA is the UK’s number one airfreight hub, contributing £1.6bn national GVA and supporting more than 17,000 jobs across the UK in 2023. It is connected to 185 of the world’s major cities, centrally located and running a 24/7 operation, enabling businesses to seamlessly connect goods with customers. This, and its specialisation in main deck aircraft rather than relying on passenger aircraft to carry freight as many airports do, means EMA is uniquely placed to handle express airfreight. This is the fastest-growing type of air cargo that is tipped to account for an ever-increasing share of all goods shipped around the world in the years to come. EMA’s air cargo growth is projected to support between £687m and £1.8bn in additional GVA and between 2,700 and 12,600 extra jobs by 2030.

EMA’s unrivalled air cargo operation supports many key businesses predominantly based in the Midlands, including advanced manufacturers of high-value goods and companies based in the aerospace, healthcare pharmaceuticals and automotive sectors.

Exports Minister Gareth Thomas said: “The Midlands is a hotbed for innovation across many sectors, with businesses here developing and selling amazing products and services right across the world. Through our supply chain support and webinar and advice programmes from our expert international trade advisors – the UK Government is working hard to ensure businesses have the tools they need to thrive.

“East Midlands Airport plays a vital role in making this happen, supporting businesses in advanced manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and pharmaceutical industries with their global delivery goals. This boosts the whole region and helps deliver good local jobs and economic growth.”

EMA’s managing director Steve Griffiths said: “I was pleased to welcome the Exports Minister to EMA and give him the opportunity to see for himself the crucial role we play in powering seamless trade for the whole country.

“It was a great chance to outline how some of our unique attributes, including our central location and ability to offer a 24-hour service, allow us to punch well above our weight. I outlined our ambitions to build on the success of our air cargo operations, bringing more jobs to the region.”

Poll position in main deck 

Considered as the UK’s busiest main deck cargo airport, it handles a significant volume of freight, serving as a critical link in domestic and international supply chains. The airport’s location in the heart of England gives it excellent road connectivity via the M1 and proximity to major urban centres. 

Cargo operations at EMA are dominated by integrators such as DHL, UPS and FedEx, which have established major hubs at the airport. It also supports freighter services from major airlines, catering to a variety of industries including e-commerce, automotive, pharmaceuticals and perishables. The rise of e-commerce has been a key driver of growth in airfreight volumes, with EMA playing a vital role in meeting next-day delivery demands.

Handling over 450,000 tonnes of cargo annually, EMA accounts for a significant proportion of the UK’s air cargo traffic, second only to Heathrow. Its dedicated infrastructure, including extensive cargo-handling facilities and a 24/7 operation capability, supports its robust airfreight business.

Recent investments in technology and infrastructure have further boosted efficiency and capacity, reinforcing EMA’s position as a critical logistics hub. Its role continues to grow as businesses prioritise efficient supply chain solutions, making it a linchpin of the UK’s airfreight ecosystem.