Cell and gene therapy facility

The Government is investing £100 million into a state-of-the-art vaccine and gene therapy facility in Braintree.

The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult facility will have the capacity to produce millions of doses of coronavirus vaccine a month when it opens. 

Through cutting-edge therapies, the centre will increase the UK’s ability to respond to diseases and pandemics, while creating new, high-skilled jobs to fuel the economic recovery. 

Read more about the innovation centre

I-Construct

I-Construct, the £2.5 million centre of excellence for construction innovation, is open for business.  

The innovative hub consists of a technology suite, exhibition space, conference facilities and informal meeting areas. 

It is home to a team offering one-to-one mentoring, grant schemes and advice to small and medium sized firms connected to the construction industry.

Boosting productivity in the sector will support businesses and create hundreds of quality jobs.

View the opportunities at I-Construct

Horizon 120 – A sustainable place to work

We are investing £24.3 million into Horizon 120 – the new 65 acre business innovation and logistics park being built off the A131 in Great Notley.

This new business park is set to be an exemplar site offering modern, flexible business accommodation, state-of-the-art energy efficient buildings, best in class fibre optic connectivity and electric vehicle charging points. 

The site is attracting the attention of several well-established firms keen to relocate their growing businesses to the future-proofed site. It has the potential to create up to 2,000 jobs.

Find out about Horizon 120

UK electric charging first for Braintree

GRIDSERVE opened the UK’s first Electric Forecourt® in Braintree in what has been called a major breakthrough for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The Electric Forecourt® is part of GRIDSERVE’s wider ‘sun-to-wheel’ initiative, built to deliver low cost, net zero carbon energy. Electricity is generated from both the solar power canopies above the chargers, and a network of hybrid solar farms, also operated by GRIDSERVE.

The site is the first of more than 100 Electric Forecourts® being built by GRIDSERVE over the next five years, providing people with the confidence that the UK will have the charging infrastructure required for mass EV adoption well ahead of the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars.

Read more about the Electric Forecourt