News and Updates

On Friday 14 March, we held our first Lift Off session of the year. This event’s theme focused on prioritising the Health, Safety, and Wellbeing of colleagues, passengers, and the wider community – a commitment that Heathrow remains dedicated to. This underpins the airport’s efficient operations, secure environment, and sustainable growth, aligning with our Foundation ‘Safety, Security and Compliance.’ 

To continuously enhance its approach and stay ahead of emerging challenges, Heathrow is actively exploring innovative technologies and solutions in key areas, including: 

1. Hazard risk assessment and investigation 
2. Manual handling, fatigue and workplace abuse prevention 
3. Health and safety in infrastructure projects 
4. Robotic and autonomous solutions 
5. Colleague well-being. 

By embracing forward-thinking solutions, Heathrow aims to further strengthen its safety culture and ensure a healthier, safer future for all. 

Apply for future Lift Off events and learn more by clicking the link below:

On Friday, 29 November, we hosted our fourth and final Lift Off event of the year, focusing on Surface Access solutions. The event aimed to spark meaningful conversations and drive progress in line with our People and Planet Beacon goals.

Attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions on creating a more efficient, sustainable, and accessible future for Heathrow passengers. Topics included tracking passengers’ carbon footprints, moving away from paper tickets for terminal transfers, and public space design.

Innovative ideas and solutions were shared between SMEs and our Panel Members, concluding another successful chapter in fostering innovation and collaboration between SMEs and industry leaders.

Heathrow remains committed to driving meaningful change and creating a brighter, more sustainable future for our airport, ensuring we are fit for the future. The SME Engagement Team looks forward to building on this momentum in 2025.

On 14 November, the 26th Heathrow Business Summit took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel Heathrow. The event, themed “Thriving together, making an airport fit for the future,” brought together local partners, SMEs, and Tier 1 suppliers to explore collaboration and growth opportunities.

Highlights included updates on Heathrow’s strategy, a focus on health, safety, and sustainability, and recognition of outstanding suppliers. The Summit emphasised the crucial role of SMEs in driving innovation and ensuring a sustainable future for Heathrow.

Check out the images and videos from this year’s Summit and watch the highlights video below.

Thursday, 10 October saw the SME Engagement team hosted Heathrow’s third Lift Off event of 2024, which focused on energy efficiency.

This event saw the return of the Lift Off Learner’s Challenge, giving students from Harrow Richmond and Uxbridge College (HRUC) the opportunity to present their innovative ideas on how to enhance energy efficiency at Heathrow. This program provides invaluable experience for these students, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), fostering their growth and preparing them for rewarding careers in the aviation industry.

SME’s presented innovative technologies and solutions for improving energy efficiency, these included:

• Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Upgrades
• Upgrades to pressure sensors, temperature sensors and control valves etc. to be more energy efficient.
• Recommendations on improved local temperature control.
• Metering & Data
• New electricity, heat and water meters which could be installed, potentially reducing interruption to the power supply.
• How the existing metering data can be compiled and expanded for improved analysis to inform better efficiency.

Heathrow’s SME Engagement team helped to successfully host and run the second Heathrow Lift Off Event this year, bringing together industry leaders and business owners. The event focused on shaping the future of passenger experience at Heathrow Airport. A highlight was the Lift Off Learner’s Challenge, where students from HRUC presented accessibility improvement ideas based on their own lived experiences. This program provided the students with valuable experience and helped prepare them for fruitful careers in aviation.

The remainder of the Lift Off event centered on the theme of “passenger experience.” It featured two segments:

• Independent Journeys – featuring captivating presentations by 360 Virtual Tours, Roma Medical Aids Ltd and iStrat Consulting to our panel of experts.
• Smooth Connections – with Pindar, Journeo and LB Foster showcasing their offerings, aligning with our refreshed strategy.

Apply for future Lift Off events and learn more by clicking the link below.