| te all the doom and gloom surrounding the UK | | | | This will lead to an improvement in journey times and a |
| economy, the town of Harlow is bucking the trend. | | | | more frequent service for rail users. |
| The latest Government figures on unemployment | | | | There was one disappointment though. It was decided |
| show that Harlow’s rate of unemployment has | | | | that there was no evidence to suggest that any |
| remained below the national average and is now lower | | | | improvements on the M11 between J6-J8 would be |
| than it was in 2006. | | | | required before 2021, including J7A north of Harlow |
| The number of Job Seekers Allowance claimants in | | | | giving better access to the town. |
| the town is also down compared with two years ago. | | | | What about Harlow’s small & medium |
| In addition, retail footfall showed a slight increase | | | | sized Businesses? |
| against a fall of 8.5% nationally in addition to a | | | | Harlow is home to hundreds of small and medium |
| reduction in the number of shops available to let. | | | | sized businesses (SMB’s), which along with the |
| The situation has been helped enormously by such | | | | rest of the country are suffering from the so called, |
| projects as the £50M Harlow Gateway | | | | credit crunch. Apart from standard practices of cutting |
| Partnership, which was formed in 2003 to find new | | | | costs, laying off staff and so on, what can |
| land for housing and relocate and upgrade the sporting | | | | SMB’s do to fight back? Well, here’s |
| facilities in the town. | | | | one very simple idea… |
| The plans were drawn up to include... | | | | FACT: According to a recent survey, over 50% of |
| - Nearly 600 new homes | | | | SMB’s do not have a website. |
| - £3M Football Stadium | | | | You may find that hard to believe when we are |
| - £1M Athletics track | | | | bombarded everyday with ‘www’ this |
| - £25M Community Leisure Centre | | | | and ‘www’ that, but it absolutely true. |
| The aim was not just to achieve the above, but also | | | | Unbelievably over half of the UK’s businesses |
| build stronger links between education, sport and health, | | | | still do not have a website for a variety of reasons |
| whilst creating new jobs and training opportunities. | | | | from “I don’t need one”, to |
| In February, the project came runner-up in Local | | | | “I don’t believe the internet will ever |
| Government Chronicle and Health Service Journal | | | | catch on” and “I can’t afford |
| Awards 2009, being highly commended in the 'Creating | | | | it”. However, the real question you have to ask |
| a Lasting Legacy' category. For more information visit | | | | yourself is ……. “Can You Afford |
| the Harlow Gateway Project website. | | | | Not To”? |
| Another plus for Harlow is an ongoing major | | | | A website can… |
| investment programme to improve the local transport | | | | - save you time |
| system. | | | | - save you money |
| Firstly, an upgrading of the A414 between Southern | | | | - make you money |
| Way and J7 of the M11 to a dual carriageway, plus | | | | Just by having a website people can see what your |
| new facilities for buses, cyclists and pedestrians along | | | | business is all about, gives you the ability to receive |
| First Avenue. | | | | enquiries and sales, save on advertising costs and |
| Secondly, the Department of Transport’s | | | | most importantly gives you and your business |
| intention to invest in the West Anglia Train Mainline, | | | | credibility. |
| which will include Harlow Town and Harlow Mill stations. | | | | |