News

London Luton Airport invites local businesses to ‘Meet the Buyer’!

Published: 04 September 2008

London Luton Airport is holding its first Meet the Buyer event on 16th and 17th of October 2008 and is encouraging local businesses to register for the event at www.londonlutonmeetthebuyer.com

The 'Meet the Buyer' event, hosted in conjunction with The Chamber, Luton Borough Council, Business Link and the Federation of Small Businesses, aims to give local suppliers the opportunity to showcase their services to Airport companies.
 
Buyers from a range of companies based at the airport have confirmed attendance including
 
Aelia Tax and Duty Free                                           
APCOA Car Parks                                                    
easyJet                                                                       
Harrods Aviation                                                       
Interserve                                                                   
London Luton Airport Operations Ltd.                   
National Air Traffic Service
Select Service Partner
Signature Flight Support
The Change Group
The Restaurant Group
TUI
WHSmith

The 'Meet the Buyer' event encapsulates London Luton Airport's commitment to work closely with local business networks, the local authorities and sub-regional partners to enhance the profile of local suppliers. 
 
London Luton Airport is working with its business partners across the airport site to understand their business needs, including current barriers to buying local.  The 'Meet the Buyer' event provides an opportunity to build relationships and network, benefiting suppliers and buyers alike.
 
The 'Meet the Buyer' event will play an important role in encouraging the procurement of goods and services on a more local basis, helping local businesses and employment levels, as well as potentially bringing additional environmental benefits.
 
As the fifth largest airport in Britain, serving over 10 million passengers a year, the airport is the largest single centre of employment in Bedfordshire contributing over £750 million pounds to the regional economy each year.  More than 8,500 people work at the airport, with a further 7,000 employed indirectly through the airport supply chain.
 
Glyn Jones, London Luton Managing Director said "London Luton Airport is committed to making a positive contribution towards the regeneration and growth of Luton and the sub-region.  We believe that our success has been built, and is most sustainably maintained, on a foundation of strong relationships between the airport and its communities. It is hoped that the 'Meet the Buyer' event will only reinforce this belief and ensure London Luton Airport continues its proud heritage as one of the major sub-regional employers and catalysts for economic growth in the East of England."
 
To register interest in attending the Meet the Buyer Event as a supplier, please go to www.londonlutonmeetthebuyer.com
 
Suppliers are reminded that places are limited and applications will be processed on a first come first served basis for relevant products and services. Successful applicants will be invited to make a donation of £95.00 to the Airport's charity of the year, The East Anglian Air Ambulance.
 
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Notes to Editors:
 
London Luton Airport is one of the UK's largest airports now carrying over 10 million passengers, an increase of nearly 400 per cent over the last decade.  Employing close to 500 staff, the airport is a major economic driver for the region, as well as a major base for 'low cost' or 'no frills' air travel. 
 
EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Monarch, Thomsonfly, SkyEurope, Aer Arann, XL Airways, Flybe and Thomas Cook operate from the airport, departing to over 95 destinations including services to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
 
The airport is operated and developed by a consortium of which Abertis Infraestructuras, a leading European infrastructure provider, is a 90 per cent majority shareholder and Aena Internacional, the international business arm of Aena- the Spanish national airport and air traffic control organisation, is a 10 per cent shareholder. 
 
In January 2008 London Luton Airport launched its Community Engagement Strategy, which set out the Airport's formal commitments to the community up to 2012.  The strategy focuses on three action areas, 'A Better Environment', 'A Vibrant Neighbourhood' and 'A Growing Economy', identifying priority programmes in each one.
 
As well as outlining the Airport's priorities for the next five years, the document also summarises its commitments for 2008, which include the publishing of a revised environmental policy, practical support for at least 20 local community projects and the development of a schools outreach programme.
 
 

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