First-ever report highlights positive community impacts of major British port

17 June 2026

 

The widespread positive impacts of one of Britain’s major ports have been celebrated in a first-of-its-kind report.

Harwich Haven Authority (HHA) has released its first ever Impact Report, delving deep into the ways it supported its local communities in 2025. That includes a full-breakdown of its how it generated a record-breaking £6.7m worth of social value delivery, alongside the more than £190,000 it donated to good causes via two regional community foundation funds.

Helen Rudd, Strategy and Partnerships Director at HHA, said:

“This inaugural report celebrates the positive impact we delivered for our local communities in 2025 and reflects our commitment to creating long-term and lasting social, environmental and economic value.

 

“It demonstrates how our commitment extends beyond safe and efficient port operations to making a meaningful difference for the region we serve.

 

“As a trust port, we reinvest every surplus we generate back into the communities we serve, supporting initiatives that strengthen local resilience, opportunity and wellbeing for the people that live and work here.”

In total, HHA donated £88,110 to Essex Community Foundation last year alongside £104,083 to Suffolk Community Foundation. It also contributed £5,000 to the Port of Felixstowe Community Fund.

The organisation and its staff also volunteered their time to help local good causes, including beach cleans with Essex Wildlife Trust and seafront motif painting with Community Voluntary Services Tendring. Further community contributions were made through the popular Coastal Discoveries beach school sessions in partnership with Boskalis Westminster and the life-saving Swim Safe Harwich programme.

A combined 143 hours of community project volunteering were provided in 2025, alongside 520 hours of expert time for the community.
Environmental support was also provided through its Marine Biosecurity Plan and Beneficial Use of Dredged Sediment (BUDS) project at Levington Creek.

Significant reductions in carbon emissions were also recorded as HHA pushes towards its 2035 net zero goal.

Helen added:

“We are thrilled with the results highlighted in the report – with great progress made in how we ensure the benefits of our operations are felt by all those living and working around the Haven.

 

“We look forward to building on those successes and sharing even more great news in our report for 2026.”

The Impact Report can be read in full here.