Enterprising Horsham, Horsham District Council’s new plan for creating sustainable prosperity across Horsham District is now open for consultation.
The Council is inviting feedback on the draft of a new Economic Prospectus and Business Charter as part of, ‘Enterprising Horsham’, its new Economic Development Framework, from 7 October to 29 November 2024. The framework documents set out the Council’s updated approach to unlocking the full potential of the local economy based on a range of local and national trends, economic factors (such as Brexit and increasing energy costs) and views.
Over the next eight weeks, the Council is reaching out to a range of public and private stakeholders, businesses, and community groups to test this approach and help inform the final Economic Prospectus and Business Charter that goes before full Council for final approval early in 2025.
The draft Prospectus highlights five guiding principles:
- Securing green prosperity
- Nurturing business development
- Creating and curating sustainable quality places
- Attracting investment and
- Enhancing the skills base.
It also identifies 12 key priorities for action to deliver on these themes.
One significant feature of the framework is the creation of an Enterprising Horsham Business Charter that sets out the whole Council’s commitment to supporting businesses operating in the local economy. Representative stakeholders will be invited to join a group that drives the Charter’s alignment of the Council’s services to local needs, demands and aspirations to ensure they continue to be relevant.
Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Property, Councillor Joanne Knowles, is keen for businesses and local economy stakeholders to get involved, saying:
Enterprising Horsham details our new approach to supporting the local economy and driving forward our Council Plan’s aim to build a thriving economy that benefits local people, businesses, and places.
A key thrust of our economic vision is to build a thriving economy that is greener and fairer for all, where current and future generations are able to thrive whilst protecting, enhancing and enjoying the many quality spaces and places that our District has to offer.
Key to success will be a One Council approach driven through a new Business Charter that will unlock the full potential of our many talented staff through better co-ordination and cross council working to support the local economy.
The Business Charter will also drive better collaboration with local and strategic partners to help unlock the full potential of external resources to align them behind Enterprising Horsham.
I am excited to be leading a fresh look at how we support our local businesses to trade and develop sustainably. Creating the right conditions for local employment and job creation is fundamental to our quest for a high quality of life for local people.
It is important that our strategy is shaped by those impacted and therefore I urge all of you with an interest in the District’s economy to share your views.