HHA delivers more than £5m in social value, annual report reveals

24 June 2025

 

Harwich Haven Authority, the region’s leading trust port, delivered more than £5million in social value to good causes in Essex and Suffolk last year, its annual report has revealed.

Harwich Haven Authority (HHA) oversees 150 square miles of water off the East Anglian coast and serves five port operators, including the Port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest and busiest container port.

HHA’s annual report reveals the trust port, which is the harbour authority for the area, delivered a total of £5,110,685 in Social, Local and Economic Value (SLEV) in 2024, verified by the Social Value Portal – an increase of 20% on the year before.

This included its employee-led Charity of the Year initiative, which in 2024 was North Essex Support Team (N.E.S.T), and significant donations to Harwich Harbour Fisherman’s Association and Harwich Electric Palace cinema to replace its projector.

Chief Executive Sarah West said: “Harwich Haven Authority is proud to have delivered millions of pounds in social value into our local area, enriching the community in which we call home.

“As a trust port, we seek to achieve a positive impact on our community – boosting jobs, growth and innovation as well as investing in the social and environmental side of the local area.”

On July 1, the Harwich Haven Authority is hosting its annual public meeting at the Waterfront in Dovercourt, where Sarah West, along with HHA’s senior team and Board members, will lead a discussion on its plans for the future.

HHA’s delivery of social investment also included last year’s Coastal Discoveries project, where more than 2,000 Key Stage 1 and 2 school children from Harwich schools were given the opportunity to experience a Beach School workshop.

Sarah West added: “Despite a number of industry-wide challenges, 2024 was a great year for HHA and the ports within the Haven.

“I would like to thank everyone at HHA for their continued hard work. I am incredibly proud of our team and what we achieve, not only by providing safe operations 24/7 to support our customers, port stakeholders and all Haven users, but also in delivering work that aligns with our values – every person contributes to our success.”

“We have lots of exciting projects coming up, some of which we’ll be discussing in our upcoming annual public meeting.”

This year’s report is the first to be published via an online microsite, improving accessibility for those living in and around the Haven while reducing the organisation’s carbon footprint.

For more information on the upcoming meeting and how to attend, see here.