An incredibly special visit at Greenway

Posted by Sharp Minds on 10th July 2025, 10:31am

When it comes to championing local businesses in Harlow, few names carry more weight than Shannon Hay and Alison Fox. As Economic Development Officer and Communities Manager for Harlow Council, they’re the powerhouse duo at the heart of the district’s thriving business support network; connecting people, sparking growth, and driving innovation across the community. Therefore, it was a tremendous pleasure when they came to visit our Greenway Business Centre, who had a look, not only at our facilities but also some of our customers’ businesses…

What are Shannon and Alison’s roles? And what do they mean for Harlow businesses?

Shannon Hay, as Harlow Council’s Economic Development Officer, plays a vital role in strengthening the local economy. Her work includes attracting inward investment, securing funding, setting up strategic development plans, and creating new job opportunities. Her goal is simple: to make Harlow an even more attractive place to start and grow a business.

Alison Fox, as Communities Manager, helps shape the community environment that surrounds business growth. She leads initiatives focused on local wellbeing, equity of opportunity, and resource provision; ensuring that the business ecosystem is not just profitable but also inclusive and sustainable.

Together, Shannon and Alison help deliver the council’s regeneration vision, making them essential allies for local entrepreneurs and SMEs working toward success.

New centre manager, Carole Rice, led the tour

The visitors were joined by Lorraine Lee, Capital Space chief executive and Carole Rice, who recently joined the Harlow team as centre manager at Greenway Business Centre; a role which she masterfully executes alongside managing our Loughton Seedbed Centre.

Shannon and Alison were introduced to the Greenway facilities, including flexible offices, studios, and workshops available on a simple monthly licence. They were also shown our meeting rooms (bookable by the hour), on-site café, and additional business support services.

“It was exciting to have the pair down to view our amazing facilities and to meet our lovely customers, who took time out of their busy days to chat to our visitors about their businesses and their workspace,” said Carole.

The councillors were equally as impressed, stating: “we had the pleasure of meeting the management team and several resident businesses. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy, collaboration, and a genuine sense of camaraderie. It’s clear that Greenway is more than just a place to work—it’s a place to grow.”

A surprise visit to Greenway businesses

During the visit, Shannon and Alison were also introduced to two customer businesses: MD Glass Partitions, represented by Director Mark Raraty and Operations Manager Richard Lawrence, and Optima IT Training, with representatives Jamie Billington.

Lorraine Lee commented: “We always enjoy showcasing the centre and what it has to offer to small and growing businesses in Harlow. I was pleased Shannon and Alison had time to meet with some of our customers, especially MD Glass, who are a great example of how our workshops can be used to create dynamic workspaces.”

Why SMEs love Harlow

Located in Harlow Business Park, just two miles from the town centre and major road links, Greenway Business Centre is ideally situated for SME’s from across the region; including Broxbourne, Bishop’s Stortford, Enfield, Waltham Abbey, Chelmsford and Kingsmore. Over one-third of our customers live within five miles of the centre. For them, Greenway is more than a workspace: it’s a convenient and supportive hub for business success.

At Greenway Business Centre, we offer:

If you would like to view one the Greenway centre’s available spaces, get in contact with Carole and the centre team, to discuss how we can make our space right for your business

If you’re looking for office space from a provider that wants to support your business success, get in touch.

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