Ferrovial carries out its activities around the world, generating employment at the local level and promoting purchasing from local suppliers. Ferrovial is present in over 45 countries. Despite the economic crisis, Ferrovial has maintained job creation in major markets where it operates.
Ferrovial has a series of purchasing policies that are adapted to international expansion, maintaining the goal of strengthening long-term relations with suppliers and subcontractors. To achieve this, the centralized management needed to supply all of the company’s projects is combined with a decentralized focus that allows local project managers to establish strong ties with local subcontractors, which in general have less global exposure.
In terms of supplier management, the centralized purchasing procedures do not make any distinction between local and foreign suppliers, provided that they have the capacity to supply the products and services with the quality required to carry out the works or services.
Ferrovial’s policy in the majority of the countries in which it works has been to contract local suppliers, thus promoting the development of the local community. The main market, from the point of viewof purchasing, is in Spain.
Local suppliers are almost fully relied upon for purchases in the other markets in which Ferrovial operates.
The BAA airports stand out for their excellent relationship with local communities. In areas near airports, such as the community of Hilligndon in the case of Heathrow, BAA finances and develops job training programs for access to the local airport labor market and training for young people (Matthew Arnold Centre of Excellence, Stansted Airport Academy, Gateway Heathrow 2012…). In addition, solidarity funds are created to finance projects for social regeneration of the area or to support local philanthropies (Hillingdon Community Trust, Stansted Airport Communities Trust, Heathrow City Partnership, ...).