London City Airport awards Newham business £17 million contract for new terminal

A business based two miles from London City Airport has won a major contract to help construct its new terminal building. Kilnbridge, a construction and engineering firm, which has its head office in Newham, will complete the civil works for the airport’s new terminal and energy centres, as part of the £500 million City Airport Development Programme.

The value of the contract is over £17 million, becoming Kilnbridge’s largest project award this year. Its specialist business units in demolition and concrete cutting, fabrication, fire protection and waste management, will complete a three-year project at the airport, as the new terminal – covering 51,000m² – is constructed.

Kilnbridge has a longstanding commitment to East London regeneration projects, starting out in 1992 on smaller builders’ works for the Canary Wharf development and later contributing to the Olympic Park’s construction. Through organic growth, expanding expertise and skills, and experience on wide-ranging transport projects such as Crossrail, Heathrow, Gatwick, and Cambridge North train station, Kilnbridge has built a strong reputation within the sector.

Today, like the airport, the majority of its c.850 employees and sub-contractors live in East London boroughs, including people who will work on the London City Airport project, which will number around 200 at its peak.

It is the largest contract awarded to a local company so far, as part of the City Airport Development Programme, demonstrating the airport’s commitment to local procurement. The airport’s annual Royal Docks Meet the Buyer event also takes place at Building 1000 on Thursday 25^th July, help to connect around 150 local businesses and SMEs with 25 Royal Docks and London-based buyers, including the airport.

Peter Adams, Chief Development Officer for London City Airport, said:
“Since we embarked on this £500 million development programme we made a commitment to ensure the benefits of our growth are felt locally and shared with local businesses wherever possible.
 
“Our contract with Kilnbridge, which has an incredible track record for employing locally, recruiting apprentices, and utilising a local supply chain, is fundamental to ensure this vital stage of work is done sustainably, and we look forward to working with them. As the airport grows, we will continue to look for opportunities to share the benefits with East London businesses and SMEs, with events like the Royal Docks Meet the Buyer a focal point for this.”

Dermot McDermott, Founder and Chief Executive of Kilnbridge, said:
“As a local business, employing local people, Kilnbridge are delighted to have been awarded this major expansion project at London City Airport.
 
“Our involvement in this project will enable us to continue to provide local young people with an opportunity to embark on a profession within the industry or learn a trade through a recognised apprenticeship.
 
“We look forward to being part of the continued regeneration and development within Newham and share London City Airport’s and Newham Council’s vision of providing the local community with a great place to live and work, both during and after completion of this significant expansion plan.”

To complete the project, Kilnbridge will utilise its waste facility in Rainham and employ new and local talent through its own apprenticeship programme. On average, 8% of Kilnbridge’s workforce on projects are apprentices. This builds on previous success for Kilnbridge, which in 2017 won the Outstanding Supply Chain Employer at the Crossrail Apprentice Awards.

It is the second time that the free Royal Docks Meet the Buyer event has been staged, to encourage new opportunities for local businesses and SMEs. It provides local businesses with the chance to meet major buyers in London’s Royal Docks, including those in the airport’s supply chain and involved in its development programme.

Over 132 suppliers, including 22 companies from Newham, attended the 2018 event, with £1.1 million of business transactions resulting from the single day. Buyers in attendance are based in, or working in, London’s Royal Docks, and are actively sourcing, issuing tenders, obtaining quotes and awarding supplier contracts. To find out more about the event on 25^th July, prospective suppliers should visit www.royaldocksmtb.com to register.