WEST LONDON EXPLORE
MEMBERS AREA
PARK ROYAL BUSINESS GROUP
MEDIA CENTRE
CONTACT US

Call +44 (0)20 8607 2500

HOME
ABOUT US
DISCOVER WEST LONDON
EVENTS
MEMBERSHIP
KEY ISSUES
INITIATIVES & NETWORKS

HOME

WE ARE THE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP FORUM FOR THE WORLD’S MOST CONNECTED PLACE.
WE ARE THE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP FORUM FOR THE WORLD’S MOST CONNECTED PLACE.
WE ARE THE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP FORUM FOR THE WORLD’S MOST CONNECTED PLACE.
WE ARE THE BUSINESS LEADERSHIP FORUM FOR THE WORLD’S MOST CONNECTED PLACE.

NEWS

West London community action during the Coronavirus outbreak
West London community action during the…
Coronavirus COVID-19 Preparedness
Coronavirus COVID-19: Support for West London…
West London Business and Wrapology meet with Parliamentary lobbying success
On the 30th March this year,…
Six West London Councils announce proposals which will drive UK economic recovery
Six West London Councils announce proposals…
What can Ealing and Park Royal businesses do to avoid COVID-19 redundancies?
• The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme…
Clayton Hotel Chiswick reopens – ready to welcome guests and protect against the spread of COVID 19
Clayton Hotel Chiswick (West London Hospitality…
Hammersmith Privilege Card – Latest Updates
Weekly Update #ShopLocalShopSafe Now, on top…
The aviation sector needs to be protected
THE AVIATION SECTOR NEEDS TO BE…
Take a tour of Hounslow’s artists and makers through Virtual Studios this summer
Artists can’t invite you into their…
“Back to Normal” or “Back to Better”? How businesses can continue advancing after Covid-19
SYFT LOCKDOWN SERIES WEBINAR – TUESDAY…
Food that doesn’t cost the earth – new food service industry guide from Advance London
A circular economy guide for the…
The Drive-In Club, Brent Cross – Starting Friday 3 July 2020
Get Comedy & The Manual London proudly presents:…
How flexible staffing could help your business return to work safely
As the potentially devastating impact on…
FROM WLB MEMBER SMART CURRENCY BUSINESS: Can you trust predictions from major banks?
As businesses try to stay afloat…
West London Export Club – International Trade Review: May/ June 2020
Export Planner: looking for new export…
SEGRO acquires urban warehouse park in prime West London location
SEGRO plc has acquired Perivale Park,…
7 things that will change in a post Covid-19 workplace
Today’s Covid-19 pandemic has led to…

1 2 3 … 90 Next »

EVENTS

JOIN TODAY: YOU WILL BE IN GOOD COMPANY...

Our wider supporter base includes 17,000+ individuals.

OPINION

- The aviation sector needs to be protected
  June 24, 2020THE AVIATION SECTOR NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED writes Andrew Dakers, Chief Executive, West London Business With the UK’s hub airport on our doorstep, local businesses can count ourselves exceedingly lucky. With easy access to global markets, it has meant attracting employers – large and small – to our region. With thousands of jobs on offer, from retailers to researchers, it has seen generations of families working at the airport. And with a commitment to the next generation, young people have been able to use the airport as a launchpad for their careers. Just a few months ago, the industry was thriving – planes were carrying goods from our local businesses to markets all over the world, thousands of people had secure jobs in an exciting growth sector and Heathrow was continuing preparations to expand and create new routes. But this is now all under threat. For an industry reliant upon travel, trade and tourism, the pandemic has hit the aviation industry harder than most and it is no exaggeration to say that this is the biggest crisis it has ever faced. Our local communities are dependent upon a flourishing Heathrow; the consequences of the pandemic have therefore been disastrous. A recent study suggests as many as 200,000 employees have been furloughed and around 4,000 made redundant from the seven boroughs around the airport. The devastating impact on the local economy shows just how important the airport is. The speed at which Heathrow recovers is therefore critical – people’s livelihoods depend on it and we need the Government to do all it can to help. Heathrow has done what it can – waiving parking fees for airlines and car parking for passengers, while working with businesses located within the terminals to review their terms to ensure they are able to survive the crisis. It is clear that those within the industry are supporting each other wherever possible. But these are just short term measures and they cannot go on indefinitely. When revenues have all but disappeared, it is fixed costs – made up of business rates and employees – that are devastating the industry. Heathrow is the largest business rate payer in the UK with an annual bill of £120m. This makes sense when planes are flying and airports are bustling, but it is a crippling sum when the airport is facing a 90% drop on traffic. If you don’t reduce one, then little option is left but to reduce the other. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the devolved Governments have taken action and cut business rates for airports by 100% for the next 12 months. The Westminster Government should do the same, enabling airports across the UK avoiding having to burn through their cash reserves and take more difficult decisions to cut their costs further. They have already done the same with a number of other industries such as the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. Just like in Scotland and Northern Ireland, a 12 month rates waiver for the aviation industry would ease some of the burden in the short term. Going forward, demand is also unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels for the next few years. Airports would therefore be helped if the valuation methodology the Government uses to calculate business rates would take into account the financial implications of the pandemic. Without such decisions being made, it is inevitable that airports such as Heathrow will have to continue to take difficult decisions which affect people’s livelihoods. The airport is left with little choice when it is crippled by fixed costs and a lack of demand. Instead we need the airport, with the pressure of business rates reduced, to have the resources to retain jobs and rebuild momentum around its push to deliver sustainable aviation and contribute to a green economic recovery. That is why we are urging the Government to use the powers it has to protect not just the sector – but businesses, jobs and livelihoods.... Read more...

WHAT WE’RE TWEETING ABOUT…

Tweets by WestLBusiness

Recent speakers

SUBSCRIBE TO THE WLB NEWSLETTER

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name *

Last Name *

Company name *

Premier supporters

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support for West London businesses is available at our dedicated micro-site https://coronavirus.westlondon.com

HOME

NEWS

West London community action during the Coronavirus outbreak

Coronavirus COVID-19 Preparedness

West London Business and Wrapology meet with Parliamentary lobbying success

Six West London Councils announce proposals which will drive UK economic recovery

What can Ealing and Park Royal businesses do to avoid COVID-19 redundancies?

Clayton Hotel Chiswick reopens – ready to welcome guests and protect against the spread of COVID 19

Hammersmith Privilege Card – Latest Updates

The aviation sector needs to be protected

Take a tour of Hounslow’s artists and makers through Virtual Studios this summer

“Back to Normal” or “Back to Better”? How businesses can continue advancing after Covid-19

Food that doesn’t cost the earth – new food service industry guide from Advance London

The Drive-In Club, Brent Cross – Starting Friday 3 July 2020

How flexible staffing could help your business return to work safely

FROM WLB MEMBER SMART CURRENCY BUSINESS: Can you trust predictions from major banks?

West London Export Club – International Trade Review: May/ June 2020

SEGRO acquires urban warehouse park in prime West London location

7 things that will change in a post Covid-19 workplace