Help shape Greater Manchester’s plan for good jobs and growth

One of the first in the country, Greater Manchester’s Local Industrial Strategy will set out new ideas to improve prosperity and productivity across the city region.

Working with businesses and local people, it will build on Greater Manchester’s unique legacy of industrial ambition and creativity to create a thriving, digitally-enabled, green city-region.

At its heart will be a skills strategy to get the best out of the local workforce, address skills gaps, feed new industries, and provide new opportunities for our young people.

This plan, which will be co-owned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Government, will inform future working and cooperation with the ministers and their departments.

Now the GMCA wants business leaders, the voluntary and social enterprise sector and residents to help co-design the plan ahead of publication early next year. 

Launching the consultation with more than 100 business leaders at the Landing in Media City today (Monday 15 October), Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “Good jobs, a skilled workforce and supporting businesses to thrive are key to a successful Greater Manchester that drives prosperity and productivity - and that is what this plan is about.

“Our city-region is renowned for doing things differently, boasting a proud history of being a social and economic pioneer. We want to work with businesses and local people from the ground up, so together we can develop a plan that builds on our industrial and creative heritage, creates opportunities for people to get on, and gives young people a sense of hope. That’s why I encourage businesses and communities to get involved and help shape this plan.”

Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor for the Economy, Sir Richard Leese added: “Supporting businesses to thrive and invest is central to Greater Manchester’s growth and success. Our city-region has a proven track record of collaboration and innovation, using the opportunities of devolution to drive change and improve the lives of our citizens.

“The Local Industrial Strategy is a unique opportunity to spread the benefits of prosperity across the city-region, delivering inclusive growth and quality employment. We need to ensure that this plan doesn’t leave anyone behind which is why it’s vital businesses, the voluntary sector and residents work with us to co-design it.”

Mike Blackburn, Chair of Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership said: “Through the development of this plan we want to find out what really matters to the business community of Greater Manchester and how we can work together to further drive the city-region’s strong economic growth and productivity.

“By creating this strategy together with the businesses, the voluntary and social enterprise sector and others, we have an opportunity to address the skills gap, encourage investment and boost productivity, whilst capitalising on our strengths to achieve a better future for the region.”

The consultation is now open and will close on Sunday 25 November. Share your views here: https://www.gmconsult.org/strategy-team/jobs-and-growth/. 

Ensuring our skills system equips both learners and businesses with the right skills and experiences to improve productivity and prosperity is a fundamental element of Greater Manchester’s plan for good jobs and growth. As one of seven areas trialling a new approach to align employment and skills policy with national and local developments, Greater Manchester’s newly established Employment and Skills Advisory Panel will hold its inaugural meeting on Monday, in parallel to the launch of the Local Industrial Strategy consultation.

People are also encouraged to give their views on the Good Employment Charter which aims to encourage and support employers to become more productive and offer higher pay and secure work.