Encouraging economic growth
We will support and promote a vibrant and diverse economy by attracting investment, facilitating business growth, enhancing skills and employability, and improving connectivity and infrastructure.
Improve connectivity infrastructure
| What we will do | How we will do it | How we will measure it |
|---|---|---|
Support work to ensure residents and businesses benefit from superfast broadband
| We will continue to work with Essex County Council on the Superfast Essex project, particularly targeting areas where major broadband suppliers cannot deliver service | We will have an officer representative is in attendance at all Gigaclear Project Board Meetings to ensure our position is presented against the delivery plan outcome for the district |
Identify opportunities to improve connectivity, including 5G technology | Work as part of the Essex and Herts Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ) to ensure residents and businesses get maximum benefit from superfast/gigabit broadband and 5G delivery
| We will continue to have a member and an officer in attendance at the DIZ meetings and regular engagement with Digital Essex, ensuring we have early access to information and initiatives available to enhance connectivity across the district |
July 2024 priority update
The Gigaclear contract has now come to an end. The matter is currently with Essex Legal Services who are considering the contractual terms.
Officers attend the monthly Essex and Herts Digital Innovation Zone (DIZ) advisory board and executive board meetings and have regular meetings with Digital Essex to understand how residents, businesses and the public sector can make better use of digital technologies. A special interest group is running, chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, exploring the digital carbon footprint of council services. Support was provided by officers to the DIZ and Digital Essex funding bid to the department for Science, Innovation and Technology-funded 5G Innovation Regions programme which, disappointingly, was unsuccessful. A pilot project with Enterprise Nation aimed at small businesses in the DIZ geography is in development.
One of the programmes being funding via UK Shared Prosperity Fund is the Digital Share programme, which is aimed at targeting older residents, particularly those in rural locations, to help them get online.
Support the resilience and growth of the local economy
What we will do | How we will do it | How we will measure it |
|---|---|---|
Provide business support, information and advice to help the business community recover and grow
| We will complete the actions set out in the Economic Development Recovery Delivery Plan which contains detailed information about the way the council supports the business community | We will deliver the schemes as set out in the Economic Development Recovery Plan, progress on which will be reported to the Scrutiny Committee
The delivery programme of the plan was over 3 years with 2023/24 being the final year. Delivery outcomes for the whole plan will be presented to Cabinet in the summer of 2024/25 |
Enhance the skills and employability of local residents. Attract tourism and investment to the district
| UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) are government funded schemes related to the levelling up agenda to support the local economy and administered at a local level. This provides a local business support package, skills training and grants for the rural business community
| The UKSPF and REPF allocations/awards are reviewed by the local partnership panel made up of members, officers and community/voluntary representatives on a quarterly basis The outcomes of the awards are included in the progress reports for the Economic Development Recovery Plan to Scrutiny Committee We will play an active role in relevant county and regional forums including the London Stansted Cambridge Consortium, the Innovation Core Group and the North Essex Economic Board, ensuring at least one council attendee at all relevant meetings to ensure the district's views and priorities are represented |
July 2024 priority update
A report was presented to Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet in June, providing members with the progress on the Economic Recovery Plan and an update on the grants awarded from the UKSPF and REPF. A further progress update will be presented as although the recovery plan formally ended in March 2024 some funds were carried forward. to support projects and workstreams that were being delivered over a longer period of time. This includes low carbon, high street premises and start up grants.
The economic development team has partnered with local businesses who offer support and provide 1:1 consultation to start-up businesses and young entrepreneurs.
Uttlesford is an active partner in the Innovation Core. The new prospectus has been published and used as our main engagement tool during the UK's Real Estate, Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), the UK's biggest real estate and investment show, at which Innovation Core exhibited. A marketing campaign is under development to build on the contacts made at UKREiiF to promote a cohesive offer to investors.
Officers attend all Steering Group meetings of the North Essex Economic Board (NEEB) and are actively involved in ensuring Uttlesford residents and businesses benefit from the workstreams coming out of the strategy's delivery plan.
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