Business: Forging Our Future

Harlow has always successfully shaped the future of business. Kao Park in Harlow was home to the momentous discovery of fibre optic cable by George Hockham and Sir Charles Kao, allowing masses of data to be transmitted over huge distances, and laying the groundwork for the evolution of the internet, work for which they were awarded the Nobel Prize.

Still a centre of scientific excellence, particularly within the life science and technology sectors, Harlow is situated in the heart of the UK Innovation Corridor, in the Innovation Core, an ecosystem of leading companies, institutions, and academia with ground-breaking ideas at their heart. Harlow is situated equidistance between Cambridge and London, both within easy reach, and on the doorstep of Stansted Airport and the M11, for national and international connectivity.

Harlow is home to businesses and organisations from start-ups to global giants, who are attracted because of the culture, scientific excellence, and location, three unique selling points which create synergies that nurture successful organisations, and all within an area that boasts very competitively priced commercial and domestic property.

Within Harlow there is a raft of business location opportunities, space for your business to start, grow, manufacture, innovate and collaborate. From its Enterprise Zone which includes a new Innovation Park – a cutting edge development which is home to the Anglia Ruskin University ARISE Innovation Hub, to its business parks, and business centres. Harlow offers an excellent home to every type of business, from the UK’s largest supercomputer to the largest public health campus in Europe, to R&D space for start-up entrepreneurs to cultural and creative intimate artist studios at Parndon Mill.

Employees can enjoy a high quality of life in Harlow, with enviably short commutes, taking advantage of our network of walking and cycling routes. Harlow offers a range of housing options, with 23,000 news homes being built over the next 15 years as part of the Harlow Gilston Garden Town development.

Harlow Enterprise Zone exterior
Harlow College student at manufacturing plant

For more information on Harlow Business please visit:

“Harlow is at the heart of the innovation corridor comprising London, Stansted and Cambridge, and with aspirational companies like SMARTKAS, and others that are also at the forefront of the science and technology industries set to make Harlow their home soon, it really is an exciting time for our community.”

Brian Thomas photography.