This update covers quarter 1 (April to June) for 2026 to 2027.
The first quarter for the third year of the economic strategy has seen a review of the Bracknell Forest Economic Partnership, while remaining focused on the actions that have previously been identified in the partnership’s action plan.
The frequency and format of the meeting of the partnership has changed in response to feedback and engagement.
The partnership has continued to focus on 3 priority areas aligned to the Economic Strategy.
Where relevant, engagement with local universities continues to explore opportunities for collaboration. This includes:
The Bracknell Forest for Business webpages have a section that focuses on the promotion of Bracknell Forest as a great place for businesses. These details draw out the positive strengths and characteristics important for attracting and sustaining inward investment.
This includes:
These pages are under continual review to make sure they are relevant. Discussions are under way with the Climate Change team to include greater information on:
In partnership with the council, the Berkshire Growth Hub continues to offer comprehensive business support to start ups and existing businesses in the borough. It does this through one-to-one support and free masterclasses, such sales and AI masterclasses.
We are exploring initiatives to increase the range of support available to small and medium sized enterprises across the borough. This follows the success of the retail support pilot earlier this year in Crowthorne and Sandhurst.
The format of the Bracknell Forest Economic Partnership will be focused on a programme of strategic events. The planning of the first of these events is already underway. It is envisaged there will be quarterly events reflecting emerging themes and stakeholder interest.
The frequency of partnership events will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. It will be informed by:
The Invest in Bracknell Forest event is in partnership with Bracknell BID, scheduled for 22 October 2026. It will bring together industry experts to discuss the opportunities, growth and investment potential across Bracknell Forest. With keynote speakers and panel discussions, there is an opportunity to learn more about:
The Bracknell Forest Youth Employment Hub launched in January 2026 and is based at the Open Learning Centre. It provides tailored support for young people aged 18 to 24 who are in receipt of Universal Credit. It helps them to overcome barriers and progress towards employment, training or education.
Through one-to-one support in a welcoming environment, young people receive guidance in:
To date, a range of workshops and support sessions have been delivered. This includes workplace etiquette training, which helped participants develop the skills and behaviours needed to succeed in employment. A job fair was also held at the Open Learning Centre.
The Berkshire Connect to Work programme launched at the end of January 2026.
Delivery is being led by prime contractor Palladium, supported by subcontractors Ways Into Work and Breakthrough (Bracknell).
Good links have been established with relevant Bracknell Forest Council services, creating referral pathways to enable residents experiencing barriers to employment to access support.
Bracknell Forest’s economy forms part of a wider functional economic area within Berkshire and the Thames Valley.
The borough’s business composition includes a range of established smaller or local enterprises, making up 89% of all businesses, together with medium sized and larger national and international companies.
The growth of the economy is influenced by the following strategies and delivery mechanisms:
Under each of the 4 themes in the Economic Strategy there is 1 key metric that shows the current position of Bracknell Forest. These will be kept under review by the council’s economic development team and the Bracknell Forest Economic Partnership. Principal indicators are set out below.
Gross value added (GVA1) per job filled
£85,604(2023)
Previously reported at £83,662 (2022)
GVA per filled job is a measure of labour productivity that compares the value of goods and services produced to the number of jobs in an area.
GVA helps assess the economic health of different regions or industries. Areas with higher GVA per job filled are generally more economically robust.
Percentage of ICT businesses
12.17%(September 2025)
Previously reported at 12.36% (2024)
Percentage of residents in lowest 3 occupational groups
14.8%(April 2025 to March 2026)
Previously reported at 16.3%
(October 2024 to September 2025)
Full fibre
96.59%(June 2026)
Previously reported at 96.4% (March 2026)
The quarter 1 report is an update on the base position set in reports for the first year (2024 to 2025) and quarter 4, 2025 to 2026.
For quarter 1 the majority of indicators do not have updated data available. There continues to be a broadly positive outlook.
The following charts show the current status of the 24 key metrics under the priority themes identified in the Bracknell Forest Economic Strategy 2024 to 2034.
They provide an overview of the current position versus target as a red, amber or green (RAG) status, as well as the direction of travel of latest data against previous results.
The chart below summarises the performance and trend for all 24 metrics in the Economic Strategy action plan. Further detail is provided in the appendix.
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Bracknell Forest’s strengths were recently highlighted in the ILC UK Better Lives Index, which ranked Bracknell Forest as the fourth best place in the UK to be born, grow up and grow old.
The index assesses local authorities across a range of indicators, including:
The borough's thriving economy, excellent schools and high-quality natural and leisure assets make it a desirable location in which to live, work and invest.
Last year we reported that the percentage of those employed in the lowest 3 occupational groups was 17.4%. This quarter we are reporting 14.8% (April 2025 to March 2026). These occupation groups are:
A lower percentage of people employed in the lowest 3 occupational groups is generally beneficial for the local economy. This is because it suggests a higher proportion of residents are working in skilled, higher-value jobs that support:
The introduction of the Youth Employment Hub and the Connect to Work programmes are expected to further strengthen employment outcomes. They will do this by:
Together, these initiatives will help make sure that the local workforce continues to meet the needs of employers and the evolving economy.
Comparing resident wages with workplace wages is a useful indicator of how well the local economy benefits local people. In Bracknell Forest, where there is a strong business base and a large number of professional and technical jobs, it helps show if residents can access the well-paid employment opportunities available within the borough.
The fact that resident and workplace wages in Bracknell Forest are similar suggests that local residents are generally benefiting from local employment opportunities (rather than higher-paid jobs being filled predominantly by commuters from outside the area). This indicates a strong alignment between the skills of the local workforce and the needs of local employers. This supports a balanced and resilient economy.
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents (£) | 687.8 | 726.5 | 730 | 743.8 | 809.6 | 862.4 |
| Place of work (£) | 770.8 | 786.3 | 852.4 | 778.7 | 867.2 | 874.6 |
Data shows a decrease in the number of people employed in the knowledge economy and specialisms. The potential for residents to access these jobs will be enhanced through:
Additionally, the Berkshire Prosperity Board's learning skills and education workstream focuses on training opportunities and upskilling.
The percentage of ICT businesses remains a concern but has improved slightly from the previous year. It will continue to be supported through engagement with government agencies and business representative organisations, including Federation of Small Business and Chambers of Commerce.
