The last 12 months have proved an interesting time for the UK. Economic and political uncertainty post Brexit vote has meant companies across the globe are taking time to assess the changing business landscape we find ourselves in. It is essential we continue to harness the strength and diversity of the assets and skills we have in the UK to ensure the future of the economy is safe.

Without question, airports are vital to the country’s success and their importance is reinforced by their position as kingpins of inward investment, tourism and trade. In 2015, UK airports handled more than 250 million passengers and 2.3 million tonnes of freight, as well as providing 960,000 jobs and contributing an estimated £52bn GVA to the economy.

Among their many positive economic roles, UK airports serve as effective places for business. Their strategic locations ensure a wealth of skills and talent are always close by, in an environment where direct access to local, regional and global transport comes as standard, alongside a combination of benefits difficult to find elsewhere. Self-contained, compact, accessible and safe, they provide a level of convenience and amenity more commonly associated with city centres.

MAG’s four international airports – Manchester, London Stansted, East Midlands and Bournemouth – play a pivotal role in this success by contributing £6.2bn to that total.

Clearly, the 100-plus airlines now flying more than 1,000 aircraft into these airports each day mean passengers and freight are crucial to the wider economic benefits they create – but it’s the ongoing ability of airports to fuel the success of the economy in other ways that makes them so important.

MAG Property is able to unlock the potential of its airport locations for occupiers wanting to enjoy these benefits under one roof. By building close relationships with them and leveraging the knowledge and understanding of airports, we ensure they get the competitive edge from the exceptional locations they are in.

The largest UK airport outside the South East, Manchester Airport is the gateway to the north. It contributes £1.9bn GVA to the North West economy, not least through the 23.5 million passengers and 106,000 tonnes of cargo it serves annually, but also in its capacity as a flourishing business destination.

Manchester Airport and its £800m Airport City development reinforce this fact, with a number of high-profile companies expanding into new and existing space. Occupiers including Handelsbanken, BCEGI, Swissport, dnata and Jet2 are thriving here, each taking more space in 2016 because of our ability to provide property that meets their growing needs.

At Airport City Manchester, where DHL moved to in 2014, a pattern of similar success is also emerging. Amazon has recently opened its new 654,000 sq ft fulfilment centre, and construction of the neighbouring ALPHA logistics facility will finish this year too, helping create thousands of jobs for the region.

This is only possible because airport sites like Manchester have the ability to capitalise on the available land, infrastructure and amenity already in place, and this is why their growth is paramount for the prosperity of the country.