Encouraging suppliers to buy into “Heathrow as a way forward” keeps them engaged and primed while waiting for a decision on the third runway, the airport’s head of procurement has said.
“We get the supply chain on board and they become part of the team to get this over the line. And as a result of this being successful, it then unlocks their contracts for their real work to begin.” said Ian Ballentine.
He said his message to suppliers was: “You can either sit on the fence and wait for it... or you can work with us as a collaborative partner and help us achieve it.”
The government is expected to make the long delayed decision on airport expansion this autumn.
Ballentine, who is speaking at this year’s CIPS Annual Conference, said he achieves buy-in by involving suppliers early on in the “optioneering” process. Suppliers “bring skills we don’t have today that help . . .
