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

Businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire are being urged to help shape the area’s new industrial strategy by completing a brief online survey.

They can also attend one of two local industrial strategy workshops this month.

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.

The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SSLEP) is developing its local industrial strategy. It will aim to support companies 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.

People can find the survey on the LEP website’s Local Industrial Strategy section here.

Surveys need to be completed by Friday October 18.

The information and consultation workshops will take place on the following dates and at these locations:

• Wednesday October 16, 2pm to 4pm, Michelin Tyre Plc, Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4EY
• Thursday October 17, 10.30am to 12.30pm, Wardell Armstrong LLP, Sir Henry Doulton House, Forge Lane, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5BD

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

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP acting 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.