Employment & Economic Vitality

Objectives:

To create a thriving employment base with a diversity of local jobs, where home working and training are encouraged, resulting in economic inclusion, reduced levels of commuting and an enhanced quality of life. To support the work being undertaken to regenerate central Leicester and other key priority areas in the city and the county, to attract new employment opportunities that complement existing businesses and established initiative.

Response:

Delivering opportunity is a central principle of the Eco-town for Leicestershire: opportunity for a better quality of life for the citizens of the city region. Our focus is to create the foundations to encourage skills, promote innovation, foster enterprise and attract new investment to the sub region. We will act with employment and regeneration agencies to promote an integrated approach to job creation, promoting local procurement agreements to support existing businesses and develop training and job creation strategies to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to realise their potential in the workforce and increase the economic competitiveness of Leicestershire

Summary of strategies under consideration:

• Deliver an integrated approach to job creation, recognising the need to deliver relevant training and education to promote the skills needed to support the sub-region in the longer term
• Create inclusive and cohesive communities where everyone has an equal opportunity to realise their potential in the workforce
• Provide approximately 14,000 jobs with 60% of residents living and working in the eco-town
• Target new inward investment opportunities, providing construction, manufacturing and development contracts to businesses willing to invest in the sub-region
• Support the local procurement of goods and services to give existing businesses the confidence to invest and expand
• Promote innovation, encouraging businesses to be flexible and dynamic and to take advantage of the opportunities presented by green technologies
• Provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and new businesses to invest and foster enterprise through start up business support and the provision of quality employment space at rates they can afford.

 

The Masterplan