What is Opportunity Harlow?

Opportunity Harlow is a local procurement portal where Harlow SMEs can find local business opportunities, publicise their services to larger organisations, and benefit from procurement-related training.

Access to the portal, and support is free as the programme is funded by the UK Government.

Opportunity Harlow is a six-month pilot programme run by the Haven Gateway Partnership on behalf of Harlow District Council, whose aim is to make the Harlow economy more resilient.

Our relationships with large local organisations like Harlow District Council, the Princess Alexandra Hospital, and Anglia Ruskin University, allow us to identify and share investment opportunities that local SMEs can bid for.

Why should my business get involved?

Opportunity Harlow is open for just six-months, so the benefits currently on offer will only be available for a limited amount of time – and remember, it’s free to get involved!

Our aim is to give you the tools to make your SME more profitable. We want to help your business recover from the impacts of COVID-19, become more resilient and competitive, and increase your potential to grow.

On our procurement portal you will find opportunities that your company can bid for, in a single, easy-to-access location. Then, through our free events programme, our experts will help you understand how to bid for these opportunities.

Apply now

Opportunity Harlow is open to SMEs in the Harlow District Council area only.

Not sure if your business will meet the eligibility criteria? Complete the form and our team will check if your business is eligible, then let you know what the next steps are.

Businesses who are not eligible for this programme will be sign-posted to other forms of support.

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Why Harlow?

Over £2bn of investment will be made in Harlow over the next 10 years. To give local businesses a better chance of accessing these opportunities, the Harlow District Council applied for funding from the UK Community Renewal Fund to set up Opportunity Harlow.

By bringing local businesses together we hope to build wealth within the Harlow community, and support local employment.

While the pilot programme is focused on the Harlow area, we hope to expand this in the future. Learnings from Opportunity Harlow will inspire similar programmes elsewhere around the country.