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south and the rail network to the north, the largest aircraft it could Geoff Briggs is the office partner for PwC Southampton and a powerful
possibly handle is a Boeing 757. By far the most common plane in use player in the local business community, noted for his energy and
is the Embraer 195, capable of carrying 118 passengers. But by enthusiastic support for local causes.
turning that constraint into a virtue, and making the very best of it,
Southampton Airport has become a highly important player in the
“We are part of a really strong network of professionals and bankers
local economy.
who work together to support business,” Geoff says. “With so many
large firms here, there is the array of specialist talent that you expect in
There is a serious environmental benefit from this too. Smaller
a big city. If an international company bases itself here, the talent it
aircraft are quieter and produce fewer emissions. And by working
needs to work at the very highest levels is available. There is no need
with the airlines to promote Southampton, aircraft load factors – the
to look to London to find it. This is a major selling point for the city.”
numbers of people on board – are high, so there is much greater
efficiency all round.
Like the other businesses supporting the Business Southampton
initiative, PwC recognises that nowadays business people have to play
“Our motto is ‘Breeze Through’,” Butler says. “That is the point: we make
a role beyond their own front gate if they are to benefit from the long
it really easy for businesspeople and visitors alike to breeze into
term gains that increased prosperity can bring.
Southampton with a minimum of fuss and wasted time, get the best
from their visit and breeze out. With motorway connections via the
“This region has lagged behind in the economic growth of the last ten
M27 and the M3 and a railway station at the airport itself, we can offer
years or so and that is why SEEDA and the local authorities are working
access to the whole of southern Britain. For businesses already here,
with businesses to achieve the exponential growth we need in the
we offer access to European and international markets either directly
coming years to make up for that,” Geoff says. “We all have to play
or through hubs like Schipol, without the need for business flyers to grind
our part and we at PwC do that enthusiastically. That means giving
their way up to Gatwick or Heathrow.”
graduates from our two excellent universities the message that this is a
great area in which to build a career and realise their full potential.
There is even a new office development in the airport grounds that will
Forget the need to go up to London or anywhere else. The talent and
offer companies with the need to travel by air the most convenient
opportunity are here. We play our part by recruiting 30 graduates a
option possible.
year, many of them from the Southampton area.”
Chris Butler and his team are keen players in the local business
community, recognising that the more local businesses work with each
Briggs is also a keen supporter of a local outreach project in which
other and with the council the more they will achieve for the greater
PWC staff work with local schools to raise the aspirations of the children
common good.
whose fathers and grandfathers may have had difficulty getting jobs
and potentially passed on a sense of hopelessness.
“Southampton is already doing very well, but if we can encourage
businesses to set up here, by stressing the many and varied benefits
“We work with 7-8 year olds to help them learn to read,” Briggs says,
the area offers, so much the better. We play a part in that, offering
“and then we work with year 10-11 children to persuade them that
easy air travel, but there is so much more for businesses who want to
they really can make something of their lives here, that they can get a
settle here, in terms of quality of life for their staff, trade through the port
good job if they work hard at school. Just because previous
and great shopping. IKEA’s new store here is a tremendous vote of
generations couldn’t find work, it doesn’t mean they can’t.”
confidence in Southampton. It just makes so much business sense. If
the whole area prospers, then every business working here prospers.”
Sources:
Steve Young, Deputy Port Manager, Southampton
A thriving city needs a strong business infrastructure and there is a high
www.abports.co.uk
concentration of professional firms with large offices to support local Chris Butler, Manager, Southampton Airport
companies. PricewaterhouseCoopers have their regional HQ in www.southamptonairport.com
Ocean Village, a mixed use development of waterside dwellings, Geoff Briggs, PricewaterhouseCoopers www.pwc.com
shops and offices. SEEDA www.seeda.co.uk
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