Heathrow are pleased to announce that Heathrow’s Lift Off Q3 2026 opportunity is now open for applications on CompeteFor. The theme for the Q3 2026 event is “Quieter Neighbourhood Support”. Please see below for more details:
At Heathrow, we are committed to materially reducing the impact of aircraft noise on our neighbouring communities- recognising that this is not only an operational responsibility, but a critical component of maintaining trust, supporting quality of life, and enabling the long-term sustainability of the airport. The Quieter Neighbourhood Support (QNS) programme is a central pillar of this commitment, delivering targeted, property-level interventions that directly improve the lived experience of residents most affected by noise.
Our vision for QNS is to move beyond a transactional delivery model to a high-performing, resident-centric programme that consistently delivers measurable noise reduction, an improved end-to-end customer experience, and efficient, scalable delivery at pace. This requires us to challenge traditional approaches and actively integrate innovation into how we design, deliver, and continually improve the scheme.
As part of our Lift Off Q3 event, we are seeking innovative products, services, and delivery tools that can accelerate this transformation. We are particularly interested in approaches that improve outcomes for residents, support more efficient and less disruptive delivery, strengthen programme insight and assurance, and enable more sustainable ways of working. Ultimately, we are looking for ideas that help QNS scale as a sustainable, inclusive, and resident-focused programme.
The key areas of focus we are seeking to explore are outlined below:
Noise Mitigation Products & Construction Solutions
At Heathrow, mitigating aircraft noise is a key priority as we work to balance airport operations with the wellbeing of our local communities. Through the Quieter Neighbourhood Support (QNS) scheme, we aim to reduce noise impacts for residents while delivering improvements in an efficient, sustainable, and minimally disruptive way. In particular, we are looking to explore innovative solutions that can enhance noise outcomes, improve the resident experience, and enable more sustainable and efficient delivery.
- Innovative acoustic products (e.g. glazing, insulation, retrofit solutions)
- Combined acoustic and thermal that delivers energy‑efficiency benefits
- Lower‑impact, faster and less intrusive installation methods for occupied homes
- Modular or off‑site manufactured components
- Sustainable material innovation, prioritising waste reduction, resource efficiency and circular reuse
Surveys, Monitoring & Data‑Led Delivery Tools
Accurate surveys, effective monitoring, and strong data insight are important to the successful delivery of the QNS programme. Better information at each stage can help us target support more effectively, improve planning and sequencing, increase first-time right delivery, and provide greater confidence in the materials and solutions being used.
- Pre‑construction survey and assessment tools
- Noise and environmental monitoring suitable for residential settings
- Harnessing data, AI and advanced analytics to enable smarter targeting, optimised sequencing and consistently right-first-time delivery
- Material provenance, traceability and assurance solutions
Communications and Community Engagement Tools
Effective communication and engagement are essential to the success of the QNS programme, particularly in helping residents and stakeholders understand the offer, the benefits available, and how to access support. We also recognise that different communities may face different barriers to engagement, so we want to explore approaches that can help us communicate more clearly, reach people more effectively, and ensure the programme is accessible and inclusive.
- Digital tools that improve resident experience and engagement
- Communication, marketing, and media solutions and expertise that help deliver our key messages to diverse stakeholder groups, while taking account of different levels of deprivation and barriers to engagement to ensure communications and support are accessible and inclusive for all communities
Apply now via the CompeteFor page: https://www.competefor.com/heathrow/opportunities/
Deadline of application is 23rd July at 17:00.
For any questions, please feel free to contact sme-engagement@Heathrow.com .
