Harlow Renaissance in partnership with Harlow Council and Invest Essex developed a business focused “Harlow offer” to attract businesses into the town.
Key attributes for the town to attract business investment were agreed to be:
- Location
- Opportunity
- Value for money
- Connectivity
- Office space and commercial land availability
- Growth opportunities
- Innovation
Around these messages a robust campaign has been developed:
- Production of Harlow Inward Investment brochure
- Development of ‘Harlowbusiness.co.uk’ website
- Production of an Invest Harlow video
- Advertisements in regional business directories and national websites
- Production of 10 business case studies highlighting a diversity of businesses around the town and the reasons why they are here
- Working with Essex Chamber of Commerce, a business dinner took place to provide a Harlow showcase to leading companies and business organisations in the region
- Two breakfast events with regional businesses from Essex and North London to promote Harlow’s offer
Discussions with local businesses via Harlow Chamber of Commerce identified that there is already a strong business commitment to the town which can be built upon within the campaign. Current Harlow businesses mentioned loyal workforce, the skills pool available and connectivity as key assets of their businesses.
Harlow Council’s positive attitude to bringing new businesses into Harlow will be vital to ensure the success of the inward investment activities. Given their expertise in the field, Invest Essex will be responsible for all initial response handling.
“Over an extended period of time, Molecular Products has experienced sustained growth in its business, leading to the need to move to a facility that meets the expectations of its customers and reflects the technical nature of its products and markets. The new Harlow site is expected to provide this platform for future growth as well as becoming the headquarters for Molecular Products Group throughout the world. Our customers expect our products to be at the leading edge of technology and our new premises reflect this."
"Harlow Council were very welcoming to a new business moving into the Harlow area. It certainly made the process of relocating positive and much easier than we had envisaged. In recent months, we have advertised in the Harlow area and have been very pleased with the strong response that we have experienced.”
Andrew McKernan, Managing Director, Molecular Products
“With our three units in Tottenham all a quarter of a mile from each other and wanting to expand to 30,000 square feet we needed to move to put the total operation under one roof. We also wanted to buy rather than rent. In Harlow there were more options and at a far more affordable price. Access is very good. We use the M11 and A10 a lot but we can go east/west along the M25 easily. Festivals need us to be able to react to contract variations and we must be able to get onsite quickly. Being based in Harlow allows us to do that.”
Colin Wright, Managing Director, Alistage