Development business support programme for micro and small construction industry businesses

Background

The Epping Forest District Local Plan adopted on the 6th March 2023 proposes to build 11,400 new dwellings in the EFDC area by 2033 a growth in households of about 21%.

However, the sector is struggling to meet the pace at which it needs to build housing. This is despite the construction sector being the largest sector of the local economy and the largest employer, employing almost 9,000 people.

From insight gathered locally, we know the district has a limited number of large housing developers and construction companies, with the majority of businesses in the district being small or micro enterprise (fewer than 50 employees). We also know that the biggest barriers to growth for the industry locally include recruiting a skilled workforce, accessing new markets, and competing for larger contracts and customers.

Epping Forest District Council are therefore looking to commission a construction industry business support programme with the objective of supporting small and micro enterprises to grow, enabling them to bid for contracts with large developers.

This will ultimately help boost the local economy, keep wealth locally, create employment opportunities, whilst also supporting the council to meet its housing land supply target.

Objectives

1.Engage and consult with construction businesses to develop an understanding of their needs, aspirations and the support required to achieve them.

2.Support the growth of micro and small construction businesses to enable them to benefit from local housing growth through biding for local, regional or national contracts.

3.Support employment growth within the construction sector, enabling local residents to benefit from employment opportunities that will come with the projected housing growth.

4.Create connections between sector leading organisations and local Epping Forest SMEs to enable the growth of the local construction industry.

5.Signposting businesses to additional regional or national support programmes that may further support their growth.

6.Support EFDC to have a greater understanding of sector, its sub-sectors and the level of value it offers to the local economy.

7.Support EFDC to identify future actions, projects or initiatives that can support the continued growth of the sector.

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