The promotion of enterprise was one of the main themes of the Harlow Renaissance programme. Within this we aimed to secure the growth of a vibrant business sector in Harlow and provide increased opportunities for higher level employment. To deliver the growth of Harlow and its wider regeneration will necessitate an expansion in employment and a range of jobs at higher levels to provide better prospects for Harlow residents. Perhaps the single most important performance indicator of the Harlow economy is that Harlow residents earn on average 22% less than those non-residents who work in the town. This is a mirror image of surrounding districts and it is only when this position has reached more of an equilibrium that Harlow will have a sustainable economic future.
The consequences of not achieving this are continuing socio-economic imbalance, lack of diversity of offer in the town’s housing stock and the inability to attract a wider retail and leisure provision to the town. There are therefore inextricable links to the wider Harlow Renaissance programme.
Issues and opportunities
Harlow has traditionally had a strong manufacturing sector and this was the bedrock of its economy during the growth of the New Town from the1950s – 1970s. Clearly in more recent times this has seen some decline and there is a need to diversify the economy. Recent job losses at GSK and the closure of Nortel have emphasised this. Also, traditionally Harlow has been less successful at generating small start up businesses, perhaps because of the town’s reliance on the larger employers that were the bedrock of the new town.
However, the opportunities available to Harlow are considerable as demonstrated in the inward investment pages of this website:
- An excellent geographic location with easy access to the motorway network and proximity to London, Cambridge and Stansted Airport
- Fast rail connections to central London
- A strong base of major employers with GSK, Pitney Bowes, Raytheon and BUPA Home Healthcare all located in the town
- A history of higher than average employment rates identifying that there is a strong work ethic in the town – a fact borne out by the town’s employers (see the BUPA Home Healthcare business case study
- Harlow continues to attract new businesses, particularly from north London from where Harlow’s lower property prices and good access to the motorway network are seen as huge advantages
- Significant potential for long term employment and residential growth
Conclusions and actions
We concluded from our analysis of the local economy that Harlow’s deprivation problems are more to do with the level and diversity of jobs on offer and lack of diversity in the housing stock than they are to do with the ability to attract new jobs or the willingness of Harlow residents to fill them. Accordingly, we saw the following challenges, which remain relevant today:
- What can we do to promote a more entrepreneurial culture within Harlow involving schools and the College?
- What are the barriers to business start up within the town e.g. availability of suitable premises, lack of access to finance, transport, image of the town?
- How can we create the linkages between the economy and other areas of our work e.g. providing the right mix of housing to attract higher income earners to the town?
- Can we develop supply chain opportunities with existing major businesses and public sector service providers such as the Council and Hospital?
- What more can be done to capitalise on the proximity to Stansted Airport?
- Given the decline of the traditional manufacturing base what are the types of business that we should be seeking to attract and how can the Harlow Enterprise Hub help deliver this?
Harlow Renaissance then set itself the following tasks, working with Harlow Council, Invest Essex, Harlow Chamber of Commerce and other partners:
- Completion of the Harlow Enterprise Hub as a mechanism to promote enterprise and provide supported space for businesses to grow
- Development and implementation of an inward investment campaign for Harlow to continue to attract businesses to the town
- Promotion of good news stories by developing business case studies and helping existing businesses to share success
- Promote a culture of entrepreneurship and raise the profile of enterprise as a career option
- Identify the potential for economic growth linked to Stansted Airport
Further details on each of these, and other activities, can be found on this website. Future delivery of these is being undertaken by Harlow Council’s regeneration team. Contact: renaissance@harlow.gov.uk