Ambitious new plan set to transform Stoke-on-Trent’s economy

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has published a major new plan which aims to accelerate economic growth and ensure that it delivers real benefits for people and businesses in the city.

The new Economic Development Strategy sets out nine priorities for action and investment, ranging from transport improvements and devising new solutions for run-down shopping areas, to raising education and skill levels and creating community-owned businesses to help revitalise deprived neighbourhoods.

It makes the case that Stoke-on-Trent already has one of the fastest-growing economies in the country, and that tackling specific obstacles to future expansion will vastly accelerate business growth, inward investment, job creation and rising wages.

By creating more wealth within the city’s economy, the City Council and its partners can generate more resources to invest in better services and amenities and more attractive public places in towns and communities.

The plan is closely aligned to the Government’s new Industrial Strategy, and identifies three important sectors which are primed to grow more rapidly with the right investment: advanced manufacturing, the digital and ‘crea-tech sector’, which includes game development and AI, and the city’s regionally-important cluster of creative industries.

The strategy has been developed following a public consultation exercise, with support from the University of Staffordshire and in consultation with key partners and stakeholders, including Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce members.

Councillor Jane Ashworth, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This strategy is a really important step towards building a better, fairer economy that works and delivers for our citizens as well as businesses.

“We know that previous approaches to economic development delivered economic growth and shiny new buildings.  That’s fine, and we do need those things – but the growth failed to translate into better jobs, wages and living standards for people in our city.

“This approach is going to ensure that we create an economy in our city that contributes to better wellbeing and opportunities, instead of perpetuating low wages and poor quality, low-skilled work. It’s going to create more good jobs for our residents so that they can enjoy the better quality of life that they deserve.

“We are a city of makers. We lost a lot of our manufacturing industries, but we are still making things – whether it’s through engineering, advanced manufacturing, ceramics and advanced materials, or digital creativity like our rapidly expanding gaming sector.

“Making is our past, our present and our future. The creativity and innovation which made our city internationally renowned are still very much there and will enable Stoke-on-Trent to realise its future potential.”

The new Economic Development Strategy will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s Cabinet on 10th December.