Businesses urged to have their say and help shape new industrial strategy

Businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire are being urged to help shape the area’s new industrial strategy at one of a series of free workshops in the coming weeks.

Each local enterprise partnership area has been asked by the Government to form its own industrial strategy which reflects on their own identities, strengths and needs.

They will set out clearly defined priorities for how cities, towns and rural areas will maximise their contribution to UK productivity.

In March 2019, the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SSLEP) began work on its local industrial strategy. It will aim to support companies like to grow, develop and innovate and help benefit the economy of the area. The strategy will also set out how the LEP will invest its resources to make this happen.

Each session will focus on one of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire’s key industry sectors.

They will take place on the following dates and at these locations:

• Friday July 26, 10am to midday, for the further education sector, Staffordshire Chambers, Commerce House, Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5BE
• Friday July 26, 1pm to 3pm, for the VCSE sector, Staffordshire Chambers, Commerce House, Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5BE

To reserve a place people should contact Sam Hicks at SSLEP on 01785 895192 or email samantha.hicks@staffordshire.gov.uk

Anyone who would like to get involved but is unable to attend a session can get in touch and the LEP team will arrange an alternative.

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP deputy chairman Alun Rogers said: “Development of our local industrial strategy is vital as it will steer our work as a LEP and ensure we can give the right support to our businesses.

“We cannot put it together successfully without the input of local businesses so they can be as productive as possible and our economy remains strong as we move forward.

“We also want to demonstrate to Government that as an area we will continue to play a key part in UK economic growth. I’d urge businesses to come on board and have their say.”

Sessions will be facilitated by Metro Dynamics, experts in developing strategies for places. They will provide a short summary of the key economic and business trends in the area and then support discussion sessions about the opportunities for growth and what support would best help businesses to achieve their potential.

There will be refreshments and an opportunity for networking.