Steer Your Business Dec 2020 - Magazine - Page 12
NEWS
Business
NEWS
By Warren Dunham
Airport Set for Take Off in Three Years
Mindful perhaps of the job losses during the pandemic
and the many changes following this country’s withdrawal from the European Union, David Foley added:
“Of all the initiatives to stimulate business in a local
economy, opening an airport must be about the best.
It marries job creation with new technology, speeds delivery of high-value goods to overseas customers and
offers significant encouragement to inward investors,
established enterprises and new companies. “
To ensure there is a supply of skilled workers to fill the
anticipated new jobs RSP are closely aligned with the
Manston Skills and Employment Board known as the
MSE-B. The board includes representation from Local
12 STEER YOUR BUSINESS
Government, Education, and Industry with the aim to
see there are workers with skills to fill the new jobs.
As to the future, RSP anticipate there could be a return
to some holiday and business passenger services, although the focus will probably remain a hub for freight.
Courtesy of Manston Airport
Manston airport in Kent is set to reopen in 2023.
The current owners RSP (Riveroak Strategic Partners)
have ambitious plans to operate Manston as a global
freight hub. RSP believe Manston can provide freight
operators with a realistic alternative to the overcrowded
London airports.
RSP expect the first phase of the airport will be complete by 2023 following an initial investment of 300 million pounds. The timescale includes completion of the
current judicial review process which is expected to be
completed in early 2021.
RSP say the reopening of Manston as a freight hub could
create an estimated 23,000 jobs over 20 years. They
expect the jobs will include, construction, operations,
management, and the supply chain required to run the
airport across East Kent. In recent years there has been
a steady increase in new commercial premises on the
periphery of the airport site. RSP expect the airport will
attract even more business to the area.
There have been some objections to both the operation
of Manston as an airport and the new ownership. Airport
operations have had a chequered history over the last
forty years at the site. There has been a history of false
dawns, however, RSP are confident they have significant
local community and business support. Unemployment
in the area is the highest in Kent and many residents are
keen the site is not used as a large housing development.
Steer Your Business asked East Kent Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive David Foley for his analysis of
what reopening of Manston will mean, David was robust
in his view,
“Almost every sector of our local economy stands to
benefit from a revived Manston. Not only do we expect
hundreds of employees to be recruited on site to run the
airport, but many times more jobs will be created among
the suppliers throughout East Kent and beyond”.
KENT SOLICITORS
CONTINUED GROWTH
Girlings
Solicitors
have bucked the trend
in these incredibly
challenging times by
moving into larger
offices in Herne Bay
Kent. Girlings have
offices
throughout
Kent and have been in
Herne Bay since 1934.
The larger offices are
required because of
the successful growth
of all sectors of the firm’s business including Private
Client, Family and Residential Law. Significant growth
has occurred in Commercial Property, Employment
Law and Corporate & Commercial Legal advice.
One of Girling’s Commercial Property Specialists,
Simon Stempien is now based in the new Herne Bay
Offices to meet the increased demand for advice in
this area.
Girlings have been ranked as a leading Firm in the
Legal 500 2021 for their Private Client and Corporate
& Commercial legal services. Legal 500 is the largest
independent survey of the UK legal market and is
recognised as the authoritative guide to law firms in
the UK.
