Thames Freeport
Thames Freeport is one of the most ambitious economic programmes in a generation. A government-backed growth zone connecting Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Thurrock to global trade, advanced industry and real local opportunity – with the potential to create 21,000 jobs, unlock billions in private investment and reshape the futures of communities across East London and Essex for generations to come.
But scale and promise alone doesn’t build trust.
When Thames Freeport came to Blossom, many residents had little idea what the Freeport was or what it was doing for them. Before becoming their social partner, we went out and listened first – producing a series of community vox pops that directly shaped their engagement strategy and communications plan.
In January 2026, Blossom won a competitive tender to establish and run their community-facing social channels from scratch.
Two months since launch:
13k Facebook views
4.3k Instagram views
3.5k Nextdoor views
In a short space of time we’ve built real traction — from celebrating Joseph’s winning film at the Frame the Future youth event, where young people aged 14–25 discovered apprenticeships and careers they didn’t know were available, to telling the story of Rebecca from Havering Volunteer Centre helping a young person balance college with a new career in cyber security. We’ve covered the launch of the UK’s largest electric HGV charging hub at the Port of Tilbury, AI tools arriving in local GP surgeries, and the ‘Health Bus’ reaching hundreds of residents across all three boroughs with free walk-in checks. We’ve given community ambassadors like Shelley Hart a platform to listen, share and take residents’ concerns directly back to the project team.
Plain language. Real people. Real stories.
We listen as much as we broadcast and the foundations are laid. The community is responding. And there’s so much more story still to tell.