We’ll be holding our Annual Public Meeting on Wednesday 8 July from 5:45 – 8pm at the Waterfront, Harwich.
It’s an opportunity for you to hear from our leadership and operational teams about current projects, innovations and the progress we’re making towards our sustainability goals. There will also be time to network and speak to a number of local charities and organisations we’re working with.
So get the date in your diaries and we’ll look forward to seeing you there!
A floating barge bakery is all fired up after support from HHA helped a social enterprise secure a new oven.
The alluring smell of freshly-baked bread will soon fill the air over the Bread and Roses Barge thanks to the support of the Harwich Haven Authority Fund.
What is the Bread and Roses Barge?
The Bread and Roses Barge is a community interest company operating on the Thames Sailing Barge, May.
The vessel, first built in 1891, is based in St. Osyth and is operated by an all-female team who have transformed her into a floating support hub for women who have experienced trauma.
Now a floating bakery, the barge provides a supportive and welcoming space through the art of sourdough baking.
What we did
When the Bread and Roses team were looking for a new oven to open the barge to the public, they turned to our Harwich Haven Authority Fund – operated in partnership with Essex Community Foundation.
We were delighted to support them, contributing £1,409 towards the specialist oven, which is specially designed for micro bakeries.
The Bread and Roses team are now planning to open the barge for baking sessions, with plans to eventually take the May on tours of other ports in the region and extend their support network further once intensive work has been done.
What the Bread and Roses Barge said
Jane Harman, Founder of the CIC, said:
“It has been amazing. There’s a genuine enthusiasm for learning how to bake.
“We fired the oven up for the first time in January and it is so, so good – the bread bakes beautifully.
“It is the perfect oven to have on board and has been especially designed for micro bakeries like us.
“The groups have really enjoyed it – we’ve got a large table on board and it’s been amazing watching everyone stood around it, buzzing with excitement.
“Thank you to HHA for their support.”
Harwich Haven Authority (HHA) is proud to announce that it has broken records for its social value delivery – providing millions of pounds worth of support to good causes in Essex and Suffolk.
HHA delivered an incredible £6,719,954 in social value in 2025, breaking its 2024 record of £5.1million.
That figure covers delivery in areas like providing apprenticeships, employing locally, supporting the environment, aiding local not-for-profits and spending locally with small and independent businesses.
Highlights include delivering £4.58 million in social value by promoting local skills and employment and achieving £1.6million in social value by supporting our local supply chain Other examples include investing in community and environmental projects through grants, volunteer and expert hours to deliver over £469,000 in social value.
It also raised more than £7,700 for its chosen charity of the year, Home-Start Harwich.
Linzi Jobber, Sustainability Manager at HHA, said:
“It is brilliant to once again be celebrating a record-breaking year for our social value delivery.
“As a trust port that reinvests all of our profits in our local community, seeing the positive impact of our work first-hand is truly inspiring.
“We put social value at the heart of our operations, whether that’s employing local people, cutting carbon emissions or supporting the brilliant independent businesses in our area.
“We look forward to another record-breaking year for 2026.”
HHA became the first trust port to utilise the Social Value Portal and the nationally recognised TOMs (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) framework in 2022 and has become an industry leader for its approach to social value.
It has since delivered a total of more than £20million in social value – with a target to reach a combined total of £40million by 2030.
Jake Storey, Chief Finance Officer and interim CEO at HHA, added:
“It is incredibly promising to see our colleagues deliver another record-breaking year of social value delivery.
“We have a long way to go to reach our £40m target, but it is great to see we are on track with a brilliant figure for 2025.
“Together, we want to ensure the benefits of our work are felt in communities across Essex and Suffolk.”
HHA will be producing a new Impact Report later this year to showcase the real people and stories behind the figures.
Harwich Haven Authority is proud to announce that it has been named a finalist in the Sustainable Workplace of the Year category at the 2026 East Anglia Clean & Green Awards — the region’s premier sustainability recognition programme.
The East Anglia Clean & Green Awards celebrate environmental excellence and innovation by businesses, communities and organisations across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. The Sustainable Workplace of the Year award, sponsored by Indigo Swan, highlights organisations that have successfully embedded sustainable practices into their daily operations, demonstrating innovation, strong employee engagement and measurable environmental impact.
Linzi Jobber, Sustainability Manager at HHA, said:
“We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this award. All of us at HHA are united in our commitment to sustainability and supporting our natural environment, without which our operations would not be possible. This commitment extends to our social sustainability responsibilities too, creating healthier, safer and more resilient communities in and around Tendring and East Suffolk. We will continue to go above and beyond in these efforts and look forward to celebrating further milestones in the future.”
Harwich Haven Authority were also finalists in the same award category last year. On the shortlisting for this round, the judges have said:
“We noted significant improvement year on year, with a real increased focus on community, social value and employee engagement.'”
The team are delighted to be acknowledged alongside other inspiring finalists in this category as the awards build towards the ceremony on 26 March 2026 at Kesgrave Hall in Ipswich.
Being shortlisted for this award recognises HHA’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and reflects the hard work the team has put into creating a greener, more responsible workplace.
Winners will be announced at the awards event later in March.
Harwich Haven Authority (HHA) is pleased to announce the launch of the BUDS (Beneficial Use of Dredged Sediment) project – working with local conservationists on a pioneering initiative that will reuse dredged sediment from harbour maintenance to restore saltmarsh habitat and enhance coastal protection around the Haven.
Rather than disposing of dredged sediment at sea, BUDS will repurpose mud from Harwich harbour and distribute it in Copperas Bay, near Wrabness, to restore saltmarsh, stabilise shorelines, and support biodiversity, including native plants such as sea lavender and samphire, along with habitat for saltmarsh and estuarine wildlife.
“This project will safeguard the Haven’s vital navigation channel while turning routine dredging into a nature-positive opportunity,” said Harwich Haven Authority’s Harbour Engineer, Jim Warner.
“Maintaining the Haven’s navigation channel is essential to the national economy and supports thousands of local jobs, whilst ensuring the smooth operation of one of the UK’s busiest ports.”
“Through the BUDS initiative, we’re able to reuse the sediment from this work to help restore and protect the Haven’s vulnerable saltmarsh. This approach delivers long-term benefits for both local communities and the wildlife that depends on these coastal habitats.”
Saltmarsh is a rare and special habitat in the UK that teems with wildlife, but much has been lost due to sea level rise and change of land use. Dredged sediment will help to restore eroded saltmarsh which regularly floods with seawater and creates the unique habitat found there. In time, the restored saltmarsh will repopulate with small salt tolerant plants that help to catch more mud and silt, continually growing and expanding this special habitat.
Work will also benefit many species of bird, some of which are threatened, by providing habitat rich in food for overwintering wading birds including Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank, Turnstones, Curlew, Grey Plovers, Knot and Dunlin. Flocks of wildfowl including Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Mallard, Shelduck and Dark-bellied Brent Goose will also benefit during winter months.
The saltmarsh that will be restored is sizeable at just over 76.5 hectares in size, equivalent to 107 football pitches.
Works at Copperas Bay is due to take place between 20 February and 20 March 2026. The programme will involve pumping of sediment by dredging contractor Boskalis Westminster, following the installation of temporary bunds and placement of coir rolls by construction contractor Amicus Civil Engineering to initially keep sediment in place, followed by vegetation and habitat restoration.
Rick Vonk, Site Manager at RSPB Stour Estuary said: “Re-using dredged sediment is a clever way of using a natural solution to solve the problem of saltmarsh loss. We look forward to seeing the results of the work with HHA, and how it will help wading and wildfowl birds thrive at RSPB Stour Estuary in the future.”
Dr Natalie Hicks, from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Essex, said: “University of Essex researchers are delighted to be involved in assessing the recovery of the saltmarsh following the addition of dredged sediment.”
“There is a real potential for this novel approach to enhance saltmarsh restoration and future proof our coastlines, particularly under rising sea levels due to climate change.
“Saltmarshes play a key role in supporting biodiversity, protecting our coasts and taking up and storing carbon, so this restoration and protection may prove pivotal in tackling climate change. This project demonstrates how industry, conservation organisations and academia can work together to protect and restore our coasts for the future.”
Theadora Sherriff, a Masters student at the University, together with colleagues Professor Graham Underwood, Dr Natalie Hicks and Dr Nicola Slee, will undertake an ambitious fieldwork campaign to monitor the saltmarsh, and the repopulation of saltmarsh plants, over the weeks and months following the BUDS addition.
A new Marine Biosecurity Plan has been launched to help protect the Stour and Orwell Estuaries from the growing threat of invasive non-native species.
The plan sets out good practice measures to reduce the risk of the introduction and spread of harmful species, which could cause serious damage to both marine animal and plant life. They also pose potentially significant economic impacts to ports, marine industries and recreational activities.
Both the Stour and Orwell Estuaries are designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for overwintering birds, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Ramsar site for wetland habitats.
The plan has been led and funded by a partnership of Natural England, Harwich Haven Authority, Port of Ipswich (Associated British Ports), the Port of Felixstowe (Hutchison Ports) and Trinity House, and delivered by consultancy firm APEM.
Jenni Murphy, Environment Manager at Harwich Haven Authority, said:
“The Stour and Orwell Estuaries are vital for navigation, industry, recreation and the natural environment.
“This plan shows what can be achieved when organisations work together and share knowledge to better protect the Haven.
“Everyone who uses these waters has a role to play in effective marine biosecurity, and this plan provides clear, practical guidance to support that.”
The actions and guidance contained in the plan have been shaped through a series of local workshops involving a wide range of organisations, individuals and sectors operating across the estuaries, ensuring the measures are realistic, achievable and supported by those who use or have an interest in the Haven.
Alex Baker, Senior Officer – Marine, from Natural England’s West Anglia Area Team, said:
“The spread of invasive non-native species can cause significant harm on Marine Protected Areas such as the Stour and Orwell Estuaries Special Protection Area.
“Natural England is grateful to the partnership for the work that has gone into producing this biosecurity plan for the Stour and Orwell.
“We welcome the launch of the new plan and hope that it will provide a useful resource for stakeholders and users of the rivers wishing to avoid the harmful impacts of spreading invasives species into these habitats.’’
The Stour and Orwell Marine Biosecurity Plan is available to view and download from the Harwich Haven Authority website here: https://hha.co.uk/marine-biosecurity/
Harwich Haven Authority are pleased to announce that Jo North has been appointed as the organisation’s new Chief Executive, effective of Monday 1 June 2026.
She replaces outgoing CEO Sarah West, who left the business in December 2025.
Jo joins HHA from her current role as Director of Innovation at the Port of Tyne and will be relocating from the North East to Harwich area ahead of taking up her new position.
Current Interim Chief Executive, Jake Storey, will continue in his role until Jo starts with us. At that point, Jake will resume his previous role as Chief Financial Officer.
Jo brings a wealth of experience across innovation and sustainability, customer negotiations, stakeholder engagement, and digital and technology strategy. Her expertise also includes areas such as AI, cybersecurity, and connectivity.
On her appointment she said:
“I am delighted to be joining Harwich Haven Authority and am very much looking forward to working with colleagues across the organisation to support innovation, sustainability and long-term resilience, while continuing to deliver safe and reliable services for our customers and partners.
The Authority has a clear purpose and an exciting future and as a trust port, delivers real and positive impact for its local communities. I am excited to build on its strong reputation and to support its future ambitions.
I enjoyed my time at the Port of Tyne and thank my colleagues for their support in delivering a number of exciting initiatives which made a real difference to the region. I am grateful for their support as I start the next step in my career.”
Chair of the Harwich Haven Authority Board, Debbie Francis, added:
“In Jo, we believe we have identified the candidate who is the best fit for the Authority’s priorities in the period ahead and who will complement the strengths of the existing Executive team. Jo brings senior leadership experience from complex, safety-critical environments, a strong track record in stakeholder engagement and partnership working, and deep expertise in innovation, sustainability and long-term strategy within the port and transport sectors. Her approach aligns closely with the priorities we set for the role and the direction of travel for the Authority.”
Earlier in her career, Jo held senior leadership roles at East Coast Trains, including Deputy Managing Director and Customer Services Director and at Northern Rail where she was Commercial Director.
Harwich Haven Authority (HHA) is setting its sights on generating record-breaking social value for the communities and environment in which it operates.
Responsible for the waters surrounding major ports like Felixstowe and Harwich, HHA is aiming to generate £40 million in social value by 2030. The announcement comes as the organisation finalises its calculations for social value output in 2025, which are on target to exceed 2024’s record of £5.1 million.
In total, HHA has delivered £13.3m in social value since 2022 – and is now looking to accelerate that progress and strengthen its commitment to achieving its long-term goal.
Linzi Jobber, Sustainability Manager at HHA, said:
“We have already made significant progress as the first trust port to put social value at the very heart of our operations. Now we’re setting our sights on something bigger. We want our work to have a positive, tangible impact on communities and the local environment, whether that’s investing in community projects, creating more jobs for local people, opening more apprenticeship positions or reducing our carbon footprint. This target is ambitious, but we are confident in our abilities to make a genuine difference and inspire others to do the same.”
HHA partners with the Social Value Portal, using its TOMs framework (Themes, Outcomes and Measures), to attribute monetary value to the activities it undertakes. This can include initiatives like employing local people and cutting carbon emissions. HHA targets five categories of social value – Jobs, Growth, Social, Environment and Innovation.
The two main areas it operates in, Tendring and East Suffolk, both have higher levels of deprivation than the East of England average of 17.8% at 42.7% and 20.5% respectively.
Highlights of their work so far include spending more than £1.3m in the local economy in 2024 alone, and creating 108 full-time jobs for local people in the same year.
It also reduced its Co2 emissions by more than 4,865 tonnes – worth £1.2m alone.
Helen Rudd, Strategy & Partnerships Director at HHA, added:
“The benefit of being a trust port is that we reinvest all of our profits back into our local area. The results of our earlier Local Needs Analysis has shown us the places and communities that need our support the most – and we look forward to increasing our efforts to reach them year-on-year. Together, we want to ensure all those living in and around the haven feel the impacts of our work.”