Simon Geere explains why Farnborough Airport is backing the Hampshire Business Awards
Farnborough Airport, the largest business aviation dedicated airport in the UK and birthplace of the country’s aviation, has been announced as the headline sponsor of the newly launched Hampshire Business Awards.
Launched in June in partnership with the airport and Hampshire County Council, the awards will celebrate business success in the region across 14 categories.
Simon Geere, Chief Executive Officer of Farnborough Airport, explained why the airport decided to get involved.
“As the UK’s largest business aviation airport and one of Rushmoor’s largest employment sites,” Simon said, “we wanted to reinforce our commitment to support business innovation growth and economic development within the community.”
“Since I took over the role, engaging with our local business community has been one of my priorities, and this is a great opportunity to re-energise and re-state our commitment to Hampshire and its business community. We’re delighted to be the headline sponsor.”
Farnborough Airport has chosen to sponsor the Young Business Person of the Year category, which recognises individuals under the age of 35 who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and success in their field.
“We’re really keen to celebrate and encourage young endeavour,” Simon explained.
“Many of the airport’s users began as young entrepreneurs with a passion for business who have gone on to build successful and multi-national organisations that continue to attract and grow inward investment into the UK.
“As a business airport this is our future, it makes absolute sense for us to encourage support and celebrate young business talent – we have a vested interest in nurturing and encouraging young entrepreneurial hearts and minds.”
Farnborough Airport recently opened The Nexus, a new community hub which will help the airport forge deeper connections to its local community.
Kitted out with modern conferencing technology, The Nexus will host a variety of community and educational events with capacity for 50 people.
It also acts as a learning and development centre for the airport’s around 380 staff.
The airport is also a founding partner of the Community Matters Partnership Project, an initiative which provides opportunities for businesses and communities to get together through volunteering, with staff able to take a day out of their schedules to support it.
Simon explained why it’s important for the airport to be ingrained in its local area.
“It’s about getting people to affiliate themselves with the airport and its success.
“Commercial airports have a natural connection with members of public. That’s less true for an airport like Farnborough, but I can’t think of any other location where the town and the airport are so closely connected.
“The Farnborough International Airshow, for example, gives the town an international stage which fosters a sense of pride in the community.
“If you talk to people in the high street, many of them will have stories of their parents or grandparents working at the airport or with a company connected with it, as well as memories of watching the airshow.
“Having local people invested in the success of the airport is part of what’s needed to help us grow and create that success.”
The Hampshire Business Awards will take place on 30th November at Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, and will be attended by entrepreneurs, business leaders, venture capitalists and policymakers.
The full list of categories, along with details on nominations, can be found here.
