Overview
Harborough demonstrates a vibrant economic landscape with a diverse range of sectors contributing to its growth. Key sectors include professional, scientific, technical activities, wholesale, retail trade, administrative and support service activities, and construction. The region has a total of 35,228 employees, with notable growth in several sectors, indicating a dynamic business environment.
Employment and Business Growth
- Total Employees: 35,228. Harborough has seen a significant increase in employment, with 89 companies reporting employee growth. This reflects a healthy job market and a robust local economy.
- Employee Growth Percentage: 20.93%. This notable increase in employment suggests a positive trend in job creation, driven by various sectors.
- Number of Scale-ups: 31. Scale-ups are critical for economic growth, indicating that a significant number of businesses in Harborough are expanding.
Sector Dynamics
- Top Sectors: Professional, scientific and technical activities (26.66%), wholesale and retail trade (10.81%), and administrative support service activities (9.9%). These sectors are pivotal to Harborough’s economic framework, showing diversified strength.
- Top Sectors with Employee Growth: Mobile apps, distribution, electrical components, design services, and aerospace. These sectors, though smaller in size, indicate emerging areas of growth and innovation.
Business Continuity
- Company Cessations: 828. This number suggests a challenge in sustaining businesses, which could be due to various factors like market dynamics or operational challenges.
- Number of New Companies in 2 Years: 1,667. This indicates a dynamic entrepreneurial environment, with a significant number of new entrants in the market.
- Number of SMEs: 7,525. SMEs form the backbone of Harborough’s economy, driving innovation and employment.
Diversity in Leadership
- Founders Gender: 21.67% female, 76.67% male, 1.67% unknown. While male founders dominate, there is a substantial representation of female founders.
- Directors Gender: 23.95% female, 56.27% male, 19.79% unknown. Similar to founders, male directors are more prevalent, but female representation is significant.
Conclusion
Harborough’s economic health is robust, marked by diverse sectorial growth, a strong presence of SMEs, and a vibrant startup ecosystem. Challenges include sustaining business continuity and enhancing gender diversity in leadership roles. The region shows potential for emerging sectors like mobile apps and aerospace, indicating avenues for future economic expansion.