Work is officially underway to develop a brand-new company which will support investment, business, employment and skills, culture and tourism in the city.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council announced earlier this year that it is launching a new approach to investment and economic development as part of its continued efforts to drive growth in the city.
And earlier today (Tuesday 7 March) community and industry leaders from across Stoke-on-Trent were invited to come together at the latest City Forum, which took place at The Catalyst building at Staffordshire University, to share their views and help kickstart plans for the new Stoke-on-Trent Growth Company.
The Stoke-on-Trent Growth Company will focus on five key themes: Invest, Support, Employ, Visit, Create. It will bring together all the relevant council functions needed to drive economic development into a single team.
Its aim is to use the partnerships and institutions that exist within the city to create and deliver a more joined-up approach to economic growth and unlock the city’s full potential.
Councillor Abi Brown, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “The Stoke-on-Trent Growth Company will enable us to take a more joined-up, city-focussed approach to inward investment, business support, employment and skills and culture and tourism.
“We will continue to work closely with other authorities on our shared priorities but we believe that now is the time for us to look after our own interests to enable us to keep on delivering what is best for our great city.
“Our ambition is clear and I am very much looking forward to working with our local partners and stakeholders on this new and exciting chapter in the Stoke-on-Trent story.”
The Stoke-on-Trent Growth Company will enable the city council to build on what has already been achieved through Levelling Up.
Over the past two years, the city has seen work progress on The Goods Yard and Spode site in Stoke and Etruscan Square in the city centre as well as the Tunstall Library building and the Crown Works in Longton.
During the event, the city’s efforts to deliver its Levelling Up ambitions were praised by Dehenna Davison, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up.
Ms Davison said: “There’s nowhere that epitomises true Levelling Up in action than Stoke-on-Trent - and what an incredible journey this city is on. I am really excited that we are playing our small in helping the city council to deliver it.”
Ms Davison later joined the council leader on a tour of some of Stoke-on-Trent’s Levelling Up sites.
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