Nurturing a future we are all proud of

Almost four years on from the start of government intervention, our improvement journey is well underway. We are making positive progress in how the council is run and working hard to rebuild the trust of our residents. While we recognise there is more to do, we remain committed to delivering lasting improvement. Importantly, throughout this period we have continued to deliver strong outcomes for residents, with our Children's Services rated Outstanding by Ofsted and Adult Social Care receiving a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission, demonstrating the dedication and resilience of our workforce and the quality of services provided across the borough.

At the heart of the Thames Gateway and close to east London, Thurrock is a distinctive and ambitious place. It combines urban centres, historic towns, beautiful countryside, 18 miles of river frontage and a rapidly growing population.

The borough is around half an hour from central London and covers 165 square kilometres, of which 70% is green belt land. Its larger towns include Corringham, Grays and Tilbury, while its three international ports play an important role in bringing trade and investment to the area. With strong transport links and significant natural and economic assets, Thurrock is a mix of industrial, urban and rural communities.

Thurrock is proud of the diversity of its communities. We have a higher-than-average number of people who are Black, Asian or identify as being part of other ethnic groups. Our population is increasing by more than 10% every decade, with the 2021 Census recording a population of 176,000.

Overall levels of deprivation in Thurrock are lower than the national average, but some areas are among the 20% most deprived in England. More than one in five children under 16 in Thurrock are growing up in poverty, at 21.2% compared with a national rate of 20.1%.

Child poverty is concentrated in some of the borough's most deprived communities. The proportion ranges from 6% in parts of Grays, Thurrock and Little Thurrock Rectory to 56.4% in parts of Tilbury.

The landscape, economy and demographics of Thurrock shape the services we provide and the challenges we must address. Building on the strengths already evident across many of our services, we are determined to create a council that reflects local needs, delivers better outcomes and is an organisation that residents, partners and colleagues can be proud of.

This is a defining period for Thurrock Council.

Through our Delivering change together transformation programme, we are redesigning services, improving the way we work and building a more modern, effective and sustainable organisation.

Our work includes making services easier to access, improving the systems and support available to colleagues, strengthening our relationships with communities and ensuring we achieve the best possible value from public money.

Service redesign is central to this approach. We are working with teams to understand what works well, simplify processes, remove duplication and make better use of data, digital tools and technology. This is not change for its own sake. It is about creating services that are easier to deliver, easier to use and better able to meet the changing needs of our residents.

Alongside this transformation, Thurrock is also preparing for Local Government Reorganisation across Greater Essex. This will bring significant change to the structure of local government and create new opportunities to shape how services are organised and delivered in the future.

While transformation and Local Government Reorganisation are separate programmes, they are closely connected. Our transformation work is helping ensure Thurrock is in the strongest possible position for the future, financially, operationally and culturally.

The scale of the challenge should not be underestimated. Equally, the opportunity is considerable.

There has never been a more important time to join Thurrock.

We are creating a council that is financially sustainable, community-focused and equipped to meet the needs of a growing and diverse borough. Significant progress has already been made, but the next phase of our journey will be critical as we continue to embed improvement, deliver transformation and prepare for the future shape of local government across Greater Essex.

This is an opportunity to help shape one of the most significant council transformation programmes in local government. Our senior leaders are driving improvements that will strengthen services, modernise the way we work and ensure residents receive the support and outcomes they deserve.

We are looking for ambitious, collaborative and values-driven people who want to make a lasting impact. In return, you will have the opportunity to influence organisational culture, shape the future of services and play a leading role in delivering change at a scale few councils can offer.

The challenges are real, but so too is the opportunity. By joining Thurrock now, you will be part of a team committed to building a stronger council, delivering better outcomes for residents and helping to shape the future of local government in Essex.

• Population of approximately 176,000 residents, increasing by more than 10% every decade

• One of the most diverse communities in Essex, with 22% of residents born outside the UK and 33.8% identifying as an ethnicity other than White British

• 69,500 households and 7,000+ businesses

• Around 35 minutes by rail to the City of London

• Located at the heart of the Thames Gateway, with three international ports and a key role in the Thames Freeport, one of the UK's eight Freeports

• Home to major logistics, retail and industrial assets, including Lakeside, one of Europe's largest retail destinations

• Covers 165 square kilometres, with approximately 70% green belt land and 18 miles of River Thames frontage

• Strategic partner within the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) and a key contributor to the future economic growth of South Essex and the Thames Estuary

• Thurrock Council is one of the borough's largest employers, with more than 2,500 employees, around two-thirds of whom live in Thurrock

• The Council owns approximately 10,000 council homes, including around 1,200 sheltered and extra care properties

• Following the 2026 boundary review, Thurrock is represented by 49 councillors across 20 wards

• The borough is served by two Parliamentary constituencies: Thurrock (Jen Craft MP) and South Basildon & East Thurrock (James McMurdock MP)