Gatwick’s strong revival is critical to the region’s economic recovery and will help create the dynamic, connected and innovative business environment necessary to diversify the region’s economy, according to a new report – Gatwick’s Economic Value – published today.

Diversifying the region’s economy and making it more resilient has become an important objective for several local economic partners following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new report by economics consultants, Lichfields, says that a revived Gatwick would support the region’s economic diversification by making the area attractive to new and emerging industrial clusters, including digital, advanced manufacturing and green technologies.

In response, Gatwick has today committed to continue to work with its local partners and help the region attract new economic clusters and – given the scale of the challenges facing the area following the pandemic – the airport also committed today to develop a range of employment, skills, sustainable growth and supply chain initiatives that aim to:

• Grow its workforce and – by reviving the airport – support more jobs across the region than ever before
• Provide labour market entry points for young people, including through apprenticeships and graduate programmes, and facilitate training in response to technological innovation in aviation and associated sectors
•  Promote a clean, green recovery by building on commitments to reach net zero for the airport’s own operations and through involvement in UK industry plans to reach net zero aircraft emissions by 2050
•  Ensure the airport’s procurement and supply chain spending targets businesses based in the region

Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive, Gatwick Airport, said:“By working together, we can harness the extraordinary benefits the airport delivers to help the region rebuild, diversify and become more resilient following the devastating impact the pandemic has had on jobs, businesses and communities across the local area.

“As an airport, we plan to maximise the benefits we provide for local people, communities and businesses through a range of initiatives that focus on skills, employment, sustainability and our extensive supply chains, which support many thousands of jobs across the South East.

 “We will also continue to work closely with our partners on their ambitious plans to diversify the region’s economy.  Many established businesses tell us the airport was an important factor in their decision to locate in this region.  We want to build on that by making sure the area is once again an attractive, innovative and well-connected place to invest and locate a business.”