The public services, education and health sector is a key component of the district’s economy, contributing £133m to the local economy. There are over 3,800 employees within this sector, demonstrating a high degree of skill and experience within these key areas.
As well as having a district council presence, of over 200 employees responsible for statutory services such as planning, environmental health and housing services, the district is home to Catterick Garrison – the British Army’s largest Garrison and the home of the army in the North of England.
The Catterick Garrison main military site was established in 1915 and is now home to over 7,000 personnel and their families, giving a total military population of about 12,000. In addition to this there are a further 3,000 personnel transient through the Garrison annually. National military policy seeks to enable personnel and their families to settle near to their base.
The Future Soldier announcement in November 2021 has confirmed that Catterick Garrison will become home to the 1st (UK) Division, one of three UK Divisional Headquarters and be a base for additional units including 21 Engineer Regiment which will move from Ripon. This cements the Army’s commitment to Catterick as a major garrison and it’s plans to invest and further develop infrastructure.
The army provides a number of economic benefits for Richmondshire including an element of sub-contracting within local supply chains, a population with a large disposable income to spend on retail and leisure activities, a large local labour force in the form of dependants, and a highly skilled workforce of army leavers looking for employment.
Operating in the district is South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the largest NHS Trust in Teesside and North Yorkshire. A workforce of almost 9,000 provides a range of specialist regional services to 1.5million people.
