North East Business Named Among Heathrow’s ‘Global Britain Business Champions’

Micropore Technologies - A solutions provider for specialist particles and emulsion manufacturing based in Redcar has been named among Heathrow’s ‘Global Britain Business Champions’.

Micropore exports to around 30 countries via Heathrow, taking advantage of the time savings offered by air freight. Located near Teesside airport, the company makes use of Heathrow’s direct regional connectivity, forging links between Teesside and the rest of the world. Micropore was also a 2017 World of Opportunity winner.

The 10 winners, from across the UK, all export either their goods or services via Heathrow and demonstrate the best of British quality, innovation, technology, or design.

As most of the cargo travelling through Heathrow is transported in the belly hold of passenger planes, international travel restrictions have severely impacted global supply chains and international trade. Heathrow’s August cargo volumes were 14 per cent down on pre-pandemic levels, while EU hubs, such as Amsterdam Schiphol and Frankfurt were up by 9 and 6 per cent on 2019, respectively.

This campaign showcases some of the businesses that have kept the country trading throughout the pandemic and profiles some of the regions, nations and sectors that benefit from Heathrow’s connections as the UK’s only hub airport. The winners will receive increased exposure as part of the campaign and will be promoted on digital billboards around the airport.

Heathrow’s trade links are vital to businesses from a wide range of sectors, helping connect communities across the UK to each other and to global growth. These companies use air freight via Heathrow as it is faster, safer, and more reliable than other forms of transport. In fact, research from Cebr suggests that cargo transported through Heathrow includes some of Britain’s highest quality goods and services and is worth 80 times more per tonne than shipping freight, covering vital sectors.

Research conducted by Cebr this year shows the value of trade going through Heathrow in 2019 stood at approximately £188bn. Cebr forecast that by 2025 this could grow to over £204bn, creating economic opportunities that are key to achieving the Government’s own Global Britain ambitions and levelling up goals – as long as Britain’s vital trade links are restored and strengthened.

This boost has the potential to impact every part of the UK. Regions with a strong manufacturing base, such as the Midlands and North East, are likely to benefit most from future trade agreements with fast growing economies around the world. Scotland and Wales would see increased trade in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Heathrow Chief Commercial Officer, Ross Baker, said: “Companies in every corner of the UK rely on Heathrow’s diverse route network to export their goods and services abroad. Their continued success is crucial to Britain’s post-pandemic economic recovery, as well as the Government’s own plans for levelling up every corner of the UK and creating a Global Britain. We are proud to support these businesses and hope to facilitate even more opportunities, but Government needs to safely streamline the framework for international travel. Doing this will help to safely restore many of the invaluable trade links that have been severed as a result of this pandemic.”

A Micropore Technologies spokesperson said: “Micropore Technologies Ltd has long targeted its growth strategy towards export markets. This is of even greater importance today in the supply of technologies that help simplify and speed up the manufacture of mRNA vaccines. A long-established subsidiary in the USA and a more recent one in India together with agencies in Japan and South Korea mean that we need good international passenger connections to be able to meet customers and good international freight connections to supply goods to those global customers from our UK manufacturing base in the North East. Heathrow, with its connections to Teesside and Newcastle airports fulfils both these needs with the necessary skills and customer service.”