UK Competitiveness index position
35(2023)
This update covers quarter 3 (October to December) for 2024 to 2025.
Highlights and challenges
The third quarter has continued to develop the implementation of the action plan building on the existing economic development activities. This includes:
- the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
- support for start-up and high growth businesses
The Bracknell Forest Economic Partnership is focussing on key areas of activity to support the economic strategy. Progress continues to be made with the Healthy Workplace Alliance, Climate Change Businesses engagement and the partnership with Berkshire Growth Hub to offer business support.
At a regional level, the Berkshire Prosperity Board has adopted a Berkshire Economic Strategy and work is underway to identify a prospective combined strategic authority including Berkshire and neighbouring functional economic areas.
Current position
Key measures
Under each of the 4 themes in the economic strategy there is one 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. Provisional indicators are set out below.
Economic performance
The UK Competitiveness Index measures the long term potential of a location to generate economic growth and well paid employment. These are then ranked. Bracknell is currently at position 35 of 362.
Business competitiveness
Business births per 10,000 working age population decreased by
3.9%
(on the previous quarter 2024)
People, work and wellbeing
Residents’ earnings
£809.90
(Gross weekly wage 2024)
People, work and wellbeing
Emissions per km2 (kt CO2e)
3.7%
(2022)
The quarter 3 report is an update on the base position set in reports for quarter 1 and quarter 2. For quarter 3 the indicators and performance measures, it continues to show a broadly positive outlook.
As with the previous report business growth continues to be an area of concern. Work is continuing to identify barriers to investment at a local and regional level, to encourage start-ups and to help existing businesses to grow.
Headline charts
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, plus the direction of travel of latest data against previous results.
Performance against target or forecast
This data in the charts below shows us that the status of the local economy is reasonably strong and has clear potential to grow.
Economic Strategy action plan indicators: RAG status summary
Economic Strategy action plan indicators: RAG status by theme at quarter 3 2024 to 2025
Performance trends
Economic Strategy action plan indicators: performance trends summary at quarter 3 2024 to 2025
Economic Strategy action plan indicators: performance trend by theme at quarter 3 2024 to 2025
Action plan performance update overview
The information in this document summarises the performance and trend for all 24 metrics in the Economic Strategy action plan.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 172 KB |
Exception commentary
Where the current performance status is ‘red’, more than 10% off target or forecast, commentary is provided below.
Business competitiveness
Business births per 10,000 working age population (WAP)
49.0% in 2023 (reported February 2025) compared to 2024 to 2025 target of 77.7% (Windsor and Maidenhead in 2022)
(based on aspiration to improve growth rate in first year of action plan)
The number of business births per 10,000 of working age population has declined from the previous result.
The chart below shows this in comparison to the functional economic area. Berkshire Growth Hub will continue to offer comprehensive business support for both start-ups and existing businesses in Bracknell Forest. We are also exploring additional business support opportunities for all stages of business growth, from start-up to high growth.
Business births per 10,000 working age population
| Year | Bracknell Forest | Wokingham | Reading | Surrey Heath | Windsor and Maidenhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 49 | 62.7 | 62.4 | 65.2 | 75.8 |
| 2022 | 51 | 60.4 | 63.6 | 61.1 | 77.6 |
| 2021 | 53.2 | 60.4 | 67.9 | 61.8 | 84.9 |
People, work and wellbeing
Percentage of working population in lowest 3 occupational groups
15.7% (2024) compared to a target of 12%
The number of business births per 10,000 of working age population has declined from the previous result.
The chart below shows this in comparison to the functional economic area. Berkshire Growth Hub will continue to offer comprehensive business support for both start-ups and existing businesses in Bracknell Forest. We are also exploring additional business support opportunities for all stages of business growth, from start-up to high growth.
| Occupations | Bracknell Forest % |
|---|---|
| 1. Managers, directors and senior officials | 19.5% |
| 2. Professionals | 26% |
| 3. Associate professionals | 16.7% |
| 4. Administrative and secretarial | 7.7% |
| 5. Skilled trades | 9.6% |
| 6. Caring, leisure and other services | 4.7% |
| 7. Sales and customer services | 5.3% |
| 8. Process plant and machine operatives | 4.3% |
| 9. Elementary occupations | 6.1% |
For the second consecutive quarter there has been an increase in the percentage of the working age population in the lowest 3 occupational groups. These occupations include:
- sales
- customer service
- process plant and machine operatives
- elementary occupations
Launched in September 2024, the Bracknell Forest Skills Hub, based at the Open Learning Centre aims to support Bracknell Forest residents to identify and engage with training opportunities to improve employment prospects.
With the support of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for 2025 to 2026 this project continues for 2025 to 2026.
Spotlight on people, work and wellbeing
The Bracknell Forest Skills Hub is a project designed to help the local community by providing skills training and career support. Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, it offers services like career advice, training programs and links to local employers. The hub connects people with the resources they need to succeed in their careers and helps local businesses find and develop talent, boosting the area's economic growth.
The Bracknell Forest Healthy Workplace Alliance is a public health initiative designed to promote and manage the health and wellbeing of employees in the borough. Facilitated by the Bracknell Forest Council's public health team, the Alliance provides local businesses with information, support and resources to create a healthy workplace culture.
Together, the Bracknell Forest Skills Hub and the Healthy Workplace Alliance are working to enhance the quality of life for residents and workers in Bracknell Forest.