England's Economic Heartland

What England's Economic Heartland does

England's Economic Heartland (EEH) is the designated sub-national transport body (STB) for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, a strategic partnership of 15 local authorities and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority spanning from Swindon and Oxfordshire across to Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The organization operates with a 16-person core team based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and is funded through local authority contributions and government grants rather than commercial revenue. Its mandate is to coordinate strategic transport planning, advocate for integrated infrastructure investment, and maximize the economic benefits of major projects including East West Rail, the Growth Intersection rail improvements in Cambridgeshire, and the Oxford-Swindon-Bristol corridor.

EEH's product portfolio is policy-oriented rather than commercial. Its core assets include the EEH Datahub (a regional transport data and analytics platform), the Growth Intersection initiative (rail bottleneck improvements at Ely unlocking half-hourly services and freight capacity), the Heartbeat regional bus network concept, multiple Demand Responsive Transport schemes (MK Connect, HertsLynx, PickMeUp, Village Connect, Tiger on Demand), Mobility Hubs guidance developed with KPMG, the Centre of Excellence training program, and the recently launched Integration Taskforce chaired by Stephen Joseph OBE. In development is an AI-powered strategic multimodal transport model built with City Science using Innovate UK funding, intended to support predictive analytics and scenario modeling for regional transport planning.

The business model is non-commercial. EEH does not sell products or services; it functions as a publicly funded coordination and advocacy body, exercising influence through governance (Strategic Transport Leadership Board), formal consultation responses to government, member authority engagement, partnership with rail operators and adjacent STBs (Western Gateway, Transport East, Wider South East Rail Partnership), and participation in national events (UKREiiF, Local Transport Summit, Bus Symposium). Quantified outcomes include a projected £78bn potential boost to the UK economy by 2035 from the Growth Corridor, a benefit-cost ratio of £4.89 per £1 invested in Ely Junction improvements, and 98,000 HGV journeys removed annually through proposed upgrades.

Name

England's Economic Heartland

Legal name

England's Economic Heartland

Website

https://englandseconomicheartland.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

England's Economic Heartland is a publicly funded sub-national transport body coordinating 15 local authorities across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor to plan, advocate for, and integrate strategic transport infrastructure investment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Transport Planning and Coordination

NAICS

Support Activities for Transportation (488), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Transportation & Infrastructure Planning (BPAHAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Data, Monitoring & Analytics for CV Compliance (Sensors, Imaging, Dashboards, Reporting) (TLAJAKAJ)

Keywords

• Strategic transport planning
• Sub-national transport body
• Regional transport coordination
• Transport infrastructure advocacy
• Transport data analytics

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

England's Economic Heartland is the sub-national transport body for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, coordinating 11 local authorities and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority to deliver strategic transport planning, advocacy, and integrated infrastructure programmes. Its core activities include prioritising regional connectivity investments (notably East West Rail), providing data and analytics through the EEH Datahub, supporting member authorities with planning expertise via the Centre of Excellence, and leading programmes such as Growth Intersection, Heartbeat bus network, Mobility Hubs, and Demand Responsive Transport schemes.

Product overview

England's Economic Heartland is a strategic partnership of local authorities acting as the sub-national transport body for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. The organization does not offer a unified software product but provides a portfolio of advisory services, data platforms, and infrastructure programs including the Datahub (regional transport data platform), Growth Intersection (rail bottleneck improvements), Heartbeat regional bus network, Demand Responsive Transport schemes, Mobility Hubs initiative, Centre of Excellence training program, Integration Taskforce advisory panel, and an AI-powered strategic multimodal transport model developed with City Science. These offerings work together to support integrated transport planning, advocacy, and delivery across the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EEH Datahub Public regional data platform providing access to transport data, analytics, and planning resources for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. Used by local authorities, planners, and partners to support evidence-based transport planning.
• Centre of Excellence Advisory, training and knowledge-sharing programme offering masterclasses, expert guidance, and best practice resources to transport planning professionals across the EEH region.
• AI-Powered Strategic Multimodal Transport Model Analytical tool supporting transport planning, demand forecasting, and scenario analysis across the region, offered to local authorities to optimise networks and test service options.
• Growth Intersection Strategic rail improvement initiative to unlock half-hourly passenger services and increase rail freight capacity in Cambridgeshire and the East of England, reducing HGV journeys on regional roads.
• Heartbeat Network Regional bus network concept being developed to improve connectivity and integrate bus services across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
• Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) Schemes Flexible on-demand transport services coordinated and supported by EEH, including MK Connect, HertsLynx, PickMeUp, Village Connect, and Tiger on Demand that complement fixed-route bus services in rural and suburban areas.
• Mobility Hubs Locations where multiple transport modes and community assets are co-located for seamless interchange, supported by EEH investment prospectus and business case guidance developed with KPMG.
• Integration Taskforce Panel of nationally renowned experts chaired by Stephen Joseph OBE, providing strategic advice on innovative transport integration approaches across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.

Quantifiable outcome

• £78 billion potential boost to UK economy by 2035 from Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor
• +6 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• EEH Integration TaskforcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026Panel of nationally renowned experts launched to drive innovative approaches to transport integration. Chaired by Stephen Joseph OBE, includes experts from DfT, Active Travel England, Connected Places Catapult, and other organizations.
• East West Main Line PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2024Partnership to maximize the value of East West Rail investment, coordinate advocacy, and ensure integrated planning across the Oxford-Cambridge corridor. EEH and the East West Main Line Partnership have submitted joint consultation responses to East West Rail proposals.
• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in promoting Growth Intersection improvements at Ely and Cambridgeshire rail capacity enhancements. Collaborated with EEH at UKREiiF to present rail improvement proposals.
• Transport EastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on rail bottleneck improvements in Cambridgeshire and East of England. Part of joint advocacy for Ely and Haughley Junction improvements.
• Western GatewaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic transport body covering the western area. EEH worked with Western Gateway on Oxford-Swindon-Bristol rail services reinstatement. Co-authored reports on rail services and submitted joint consultation responses.
• Network RailcoreTechnology or IntegrationRail infrastructure operator working with EEH on Oxford-Swindon-Bristol rail services, network capacity analysis, and economic appraisal for new services.
• Great Western RailwaycoreTechnology or IntegrationTrain operator delivering Oxford-Swindon-Bristol services. Introduced popular Saturday trial service in 2024 that is being expanded to regular service.
• ArupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnical expertise provider commissioned for EEH's Rail Main Line Priorities Study and other technical analyses.
• City SciencesupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartner developing AI-powered strategic multimodal transport model for EEH using Innovate UK funding.
• KPMGsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessional services firm collaborating on mobility hubs work, including investment prospectus development and cross-sector workshops.
• Bedford Borough CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority of EEH's Strategic Transport Leadership Board, participating in Local Transport Summit hosting and regional transport planning.
• Buckinghamshire CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority working on Aylesbury-Milton Keynes link advocacy, Demand Responsive Transport schemes (PickMeUp, Village Connect), and Aylesbury Garden Town development.
• Cambridgeshire County CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority and partner on Growth Intersection proposals and total transport initiatives.
• Hertfordshire County CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority, shares successes at EEH Bus Symposium, involved in Demand Responsive Transport with HertsLynx service.
• Milton Keynes CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority leading on innovation for integration, operating MK Connect DRT scheme, and presented at innovation spotlight events.
• Oxfordshire County CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority and partner in presentations at Local Transport Summit and rail connectivity studies.
• West Northamptonshire CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority and host of EEH Bus Symposium 2024 in Northampton, partner in total transport deep dive.
• Luton CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority, shared successes at EEH Bus Symposium, involved in connectivity studies and Luton Airport expansion considerations.
• Peterborough City CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority and partner in Growth Intersection rail improvements.
• Swindon Borough CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority and partner in Oxford-Swindon-Bristol rail services advocacy.
• Central Bedfordshire CouncilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember authority of EEH's Strategic Transport Leadership Board.
• East West Railway CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationCompany delivering East West Rail. EEH has key role in maximizing benefits of the scheme, engaged in consultations, and advocating for integrated planning.
• Wider South East Rail PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership formed by EEH, Transport East, and Transport for South East to engage with strategic network planners including Great British Railways.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Midlands Connect: Sub-national transport body for the Midlands, operating a similar model of local authority partnership, strategic transport evidence base, and freight/passenger rail advocacy. Comparable in mission and governance structure.
• Transport East: Sub-national transport body covering the East of England, partnering with EEH on joint advocacy for Ely and Haughley Junction rail improvements. Closest functional peer given shared STB mandate and rail-bottleneck remit.
• Western Gateway: Sub-national transport body covering the western area; EEH and Western Gateway co-authored reports on Oxford-Swindon-Bristol rail services and submitted joint consultation responses, making them co-advocates on overlapping corridors.
• Transport for the South East: Sub-national transport body covering the south east of England, co-founder of the Wider South East Rail Partnership with EEH. Direct peer in terms of STB mandate, scale, and engagement with strategic network planners such as Great British Railways.

Regional players

• East West Railway Company: Arm's-length company delivering East West Rail; EEH's role is to maximize the benefits of the scheme. A regional delivery counterpart that consumes EEH's planning outputs for the corridor.

Others

• Arup: Engineering consultancy commissioned for EEH's Rail Main Line Priorities Study and other technical analyses. Adjacent enabling partner rather than a competing peer; relevant for understanding EEH's delivery ecosystem.
• Active Travel England: UK government agency for walking, wheeling and cycling, also represented on EEH's Integration Taskforce. Adjacent policy actor whose remit intersects with EEH's integration and accessibility workstreams.

Broad incumbents

• Network Rail: National rail infrastructure operator and a key EEH partner for Oxford-Swindon-Bristol services and network capacity analysis. Compares as a broader incumbent in the same rail planning ecosystem EEH influences.
• Transport for the North: Largest and most established statutory STB in England. EEH is a smaller-body counterpart with similar remit but a more concentrated, single-corridor geography (Oxford-Cambridge arc) rather than a pan-regional scope.

Emerging players

• Connected Places Catapult: UK innovation accelerator for transport and place-making, represented on EEH's Integration Taskforce. Comparable in applying innovation and data to transport planning, though at a national rather than regional remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/england-s-economic-heartland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about England's Economic Heartland