Economic Overview of the Harrogate District February 2015 Informing the district’s Economy Action Plan

The Harrogate district economy in numbers… Estimated 13,500 businesses 8,370 VAT registered enterprises 9,680 business units 95,000 jobs in total = 68,000 full time equivalent (FTE) £3.85 billion gross value added (GVA) in 2015

Residents of the Harrogate district… 158,000 resident population The population of the district is projected to increase by 10,498 over 2012–2037, a 6.6% increase. In 2014, 34,500 (22%) of the district’s residents are over 65 years of age. Populations of main town settlements: Harrogate: 73,000, Ripon: 16,000, Knaresborough: 15,000, Boroughbridge: 3,200, Pateley Bridge: 2,700

Population Pyramid (2012) (Source: ONS) Harrogate District England

Population Pyramid (2037) (Source: ONS) Harrogate District England

The Harrogate District as a Visitor Destination A vibrant tourism offer and growing international profile following a successful Grand Départ! 5.4 million visitors a year (4.7 million day trippers). Visitors spend circa £300 million and support 7,500 jobs. 500 accommodation providers with over 15,000 bed spaces. Over 135 restaurants. A world class conference centre that attracted 230,000 people in 2013/14.

An Entrepreneurial District – the highest business start-up rate in the region…

Business Start-Up Rate (per 10,000 head of population) (2008 – 2014) (Source: Banksearch Consultancy)

High employment rate – lowest Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimant rate on record…

Job Seekers Allowance Claimants (% working age population) (January 2015) (Source: Department for Work and Pensions)

Surplus of Jobs – 19,500 people travel into the Harrogate district on a workday from neighbouring local authorities, whilst 18,600 leave the district. Only Leeds sees more people arriving from the Harrogate district on a workday.

Travel to Work Flows (2011) (Source: ONS Census) Ryedale HambletonRichmondshire Craven Bradford Leeds Selby York Scarborough

Resident earnings - higher than average. Workplace earnings - lower than average.

Average Full-Time Gross Weekly Pay: By Residence and Workplace (2014) (Source: ONS)

A high proportion of part-time jobs – driven by a large number of jobs in the service sector – particularly food, accommodation, retail and residential care.

Full/Part Time Jobs (2013) (Source: ONS)

Economic Character: in terms of GVA and/or FTE, the following sectors are prominent in the district when compared to the Leeds City Region, Yorkshire and Humber and UK averages: Wholesale, Professional Services, Retail, Accommodation & Food Services, Media activities, Agriculture, Residential Care.

FTE (Jobs) and GVA (£) by Sector (2015) (Source: Regional Econometric Model)

High cost of living – high and rising house prices and a costly private rental market…

Average House Price (April-June 2013) (Source: BBC)

A geographical imbalance in GVA – Harrogate town accounts for nearly two thirds (59%) of GVA but has less than half (46%) of the resident population

Share of GVA (£) in the Harrogate District (2014) (Source: Regional Econometric Model)

Size of Business Units - smaller than average offices and industrial units…

Average Floorspace: Industrial Units (Sq Metres) ( ) (Source: Valuation Office Agency) Average Floorspace: Office Units (Sq Metres) ( ) (Source: Valuation Office Agency)

Percentage of Harrogate Business Units that are ‘Medium’ or ‘Large’ (2013) (Source: ONS - Inter Departmental Business Register)

The district’s economy is forecasted to grow by £325 million in GVA (8.4%) and create approximately 2,150 full-time equivalent jobs from 2015 to However, growth in GVA has been forecast at a slower pace than the wider Leeds City Region (11.2%), Yorkshire and Humber (10.8%) and the UK (12.6%). The district’s annual GVA is expected to reach its pre- recession peak in 2019 (compared with 2015 across the LCR). Wholesale, finance, professional services and media activities will deliver the most growth GVA. Accommodation, food services, media activities and wholesale will deliver the most growth in FTE Jobs. Forecasts for

GVA (£) Versus FTE (Jobs) ( ) (Source: Regional Econometric Model)