Government Grant Helps Couzens Bakery Bloom at The Harvey Centre

THE Harvey Centre in Harlow is well placed to emerge positively from the COVID-19 crisis following a number of Government initiatives to support the retail sector and small businesses.

These initiatives are particularly relevant to the Harlow scheme, which has recently seen Couzens Bakery receive a Government grant to the value of £50,000, which has been invested into their new premises within The Harvey Centre.

When Couzens Bakery originally re-opened during lockdown in mid-May, the Couzens family quickly realised that the high demand, along with the new measures brought in by COVID-19, meant they needed an additional premises to accommodate the popular coffee shop aspect of the business. The Government grant was therefore a welcome opportunity and enabled the family to adapt to a new normal, taking the brave decision to open a second location, Couzens Bakery and Coffee Lounge, on the First Floor of The Harvey Centre. The original shop on the Ground Floor remains open for takeaways.

Couzens Bakery is a pillar of the community, having been in Harlow for over 25 years, with some employees in their 21st year of loyal service. The location move was very much a communal effort, with staff from both Couzens Bakery and The Harvey Centre, as well as members of the Couzens family getting involved with the decorating to ensure the new space was ready to welcome customers ahead of the grand opening on Monday 4th July.

You can find Couzens Bakery and Coffee Lounge on the First Floor of The Harvey Centre Monday – Saturday 8:30am – 3:00pm, and Sunday 10:00am – 3:00pm.

Bryan Young, Centre Manager of The Harvey Centre, says: ‘’It is hard to imagine that the COVID-19 crisis has left any industry untouched and retail is no exception, but thanks to the Government grants, we have every confidence that retail will bounce back. Couzens was a previously thriving small business who has taken full advantage of help being offered to them, and it’s great to see its loyal customers come with them on the journey to their second premises on the First Floor.’’

Wayne, Owner of Couzens Bakery at The Harvey Centre, says: ‘’We have a very loyal customer base, so it’s been lovely catching up with our customers over the past few weeks, and the Government grant has meant we can welcome them back safely. The ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme is a real footfall driver too and it’s nice to see our older customers coming out to enjoy it!’’