Drafted before the third national lockdown was introduced, the St Helens Economic Recovery Plan outlines the scale of the challenges, opportunities that exist in St Helens Borough and the practical projects to address the challenges.
READ THE PLAN: http://moderngov.sthelens.gov.uk/documents/s110412/Appendix%202.pdf
VIEW THE DETAILED ACTION PLAN: http://moderngov.sthelens.gov.uk/documents/s110411/Appendix%201.pdf
The plan focuses on:
- Supporting the St Helens business ecosystem to help businesses to survive, identify new opportunities for the existing business base and also attract inward investment opportunities
- A people focused recovery – supporting the residents of St Helens to access employment and upskill for new opportunities across the borough and beyond
- Ensuring that future growth helps tackle the climate emergency – this outlines how the council and its partners will use land and regeneration opportunities to attract inward investment, tackle climate change and provide opportunities for residents to achieve their aspirations
In response to the pandemic, the council continues to support residents and businesses in the short-term, including:
- Promoting and paying out local and national grants to businesses
- Assisting more than 400 out-of-work people with advice, with more than 150 going onto find employment
- Providing recruitment support and advice to businesses looking to retain and expand their staff
- Helping businesses to adapt to new trading conditions and to embrace innovation
Welcoming the report, Labour Councillor Kate Groucutt, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Business says: “As a council, one of our top priorities is to support a strong, diverse and well-connected local economy with an aim to improve economic growth, support businesses to start and grow here in St Helens Borough, and generate good quality jobs for local people.
“The key to the success of the St Helens economy will be our relationships and partnerships at a local level. This economic recovery plan has, at its heart, the intention to work closely with stakeholders within our borough and across the region, including business leaders, education and skills providers, young people, public sector partners, and the community and voluntary sector.
“The council’s role will be to facilitate and enable a range of projects and to deliver an economic recovery plan. Despite the challenges of the last year, we can look forward with optimism at the opportunities facing our Borough, and together rebuild from the coronavirus pandemic with a greener, healthier and stronger economy and a borough we all can be proud of.”
The plan will now be the subject of a six-week consultation with businesses, partners, and residents.