By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
Ambitious plans to create 12,000 new jobs and add half a billion pounds of value in Nottingham have been unveiled.
Nottingham City Council and Nottingham Growth Board, who are behind the plan, say it will make the city an attractive place to invest.
Leaders admit it will be difficult given Nottingham’s unemployment rate and skills gap, but insist it is achievable.
The plan was unveiled to the business community at the BioCity campus in Nottingham on Tuesday (July 9).
It aims to achieve 12,000 new jobs and £500m of GVA (Gross Value Added – the total value of goods and services) by 2030.
There was a focus on the private and charity sectors taking over from the public sector in areas where they could perform better.
City council deputy leader Councillor Ethan Radford (Lab) said: “The goals are ambitious but feasible. We have a Labour council, mayor and a government – finally – which can get us to the place we need to be in.
“It will be difficult, but I’m confident. We are realistic about the weaknesses, including unemployment and an unskilled workforce. But we know where to target and put resources in order to turn the situation around.”
He said the council’s economic challenges, which saw it effectively being declared bankrupt last year, shouldn’t put investors off.
“We have a new leadership and political stability for three years. We’re trying to create an image of Nottingham where we accept the mistakes we’ve made, get our house in order and get Nottingham to a place where it’s an attractive place to invest,” Cllr Radford said.
The plan will target four key areas of people and skills; enterprise and investment; infrastructure and regeneration; and quality of life in the city.
Nick Ebbs, chair of the Nottingham Growth Board, said businesses should focus on the city’s potential rather than its problems.
“We have great businesses like Boots and Experia. We have amazing universities. We have a great cultural offer,” he said.
“There are challenges around the city’s financial situation but there are so much more interesting things for businesses to focus on.”
He said the plan wanted to deliver “not just jobs but good jobs”, and welcomed recent statements from the new Labour government.
“There’s been a lot of talk in the last few days about devolution and more focus on cities and mayoral authorities. That’s all good news for the city,” he said.
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward (Lab) had been due to attend the launch, but had been asked to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street along with other mayors.
Iain Blatherwick, chair of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, appealed for businesses to get involved in the plan.
“How amazing would it be if we can get the Island Quarter, Broadmarsh and Castle Meadow campus all right?” He said.
