WATCH: Walker's global development linked to growth of Heathrow Airport hub
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A SCOTTISH firm exporting to 121 countries worldwide – from its headquarters on Speyside – says its global development is linked to the growth of Heathrow as an international aviation hub.
A new study has revealed that £28.8 billion worth of goods were exported from Scotland via Heathrow before the Covid pandemic.
And visitors travelling through the London airport, went on to spend £400 million in Scotland.
Nicky Walker, managing director of Walker's shortbread, based in Aberlour, appears in a new promotional campaign for Heathrow.
He says the growth of the airport will open up potential new markets to the 125-year-old family run business.
"We need a central hub to go into the world and our international team are using Heathrow as a thoroughfare to get to Europe.
"Aviation is key in terms of customer support and customer visits to our premises."
The study, which contains new research by consultancy Frontier Economics, reveals Heathrow is Britain’s “most valuable port” helping contribute to the £28.8 billion worth of goods exported from Scotland pre-pandemic.
The report: ‘Heathrow: Sustainable Growth, Global Connectivity’, charts the part Britain’s hub airport plays in the UK aviation sector’s £12 billion annual boost to the British economy.
Walker’s employs more than 1000 people at factories in Elgin and Aberlour.
Overseas sales make up almost half of Walker’s business.
The report also shows that Heathrow and the aviation industry plays a significant role in supporting businesses with access to global markets and creating jobs in Scotland,
Almost three million international tourists visit Scotland in a year, spending nearly £2 billion whilst on their trips.
In 2019, business passengers to and from Scotland via Heathrow generated more than £570 million in trade and investment.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye welcomed the findings of Frontier Economics.
He said Heathrow’s growth also comes with the goal by 2030 of cutting carbon emissions in the air by up to 15 per cent and at least 45 per cent on the ground compared to 2019.
"Each of the businesses we visited relies on Heathrow either as a direct supplier or as the airport through which they export their goods.
"This is because Heathrow sits at the centre of the UK’s global connectivity, serving as the country’s gateway to the world.
Heathrow is a hub to a network of 222 destinations across 86 countries.
"It means that businesses from every corner of the country, including each of those we visited, are just a flight away from global markets."
Added Mr Holland-Kaye: “Aviation is a force for good in the world, boosting the UK’s regional economies and lifting millions out of poverty through trade and tourism. But these social and economic benefits cannot come at any cost. Climate change is an existential threat to aviation and the planet and our industry must play its part by taking fossil fuel carbon out of flying. This is so that regional economies like Scotland can continue to benefit from Heathrow and the aviation sector.
Nicky Walker added: “Heathrow is the best connection for us. We’re based in the North of Scotland. We need a central Hub to go anywhere in the world.”
The publication of the new report follows the launch in early 2022 of the Heathrow 2.0: Connecting People and Planet strategy.
The strategy sets out how the UK’s only hub airport is driving forward net zero aviation and ensuring the local area remains a great place to live and work, including ambitious new actions and plans on net zero, air quality, noise pollution and waste.
