Member Article

Study highlights strengths in Cheshire and Warrington

Manufacturing has been identified as an area of strength for Cheshire and Warrington, following a specially commissioned report.

The research, for Cheshire and Warrington LEP, was intended to determine the industrial and commercial strengths of the area.

Production was found to be a major contributor to the £22bn economic value of the sub-region, and the LEP aims to grow this to £30bn by 2030.

Christine Gaskell, Chair of the Cheshire and Warrington LEP commented: “Cheshire and Warrington is a significant economic area and with both a strong productive industrial base and strengths in financial services is has a more balanced economy than many other locations in the UK.

“We have a compelling message to offer with the large population catchment area, a good managerial and professional skills base and access to graduates as well as national and international transport connectivity.

“We have the right leadership, infrastructure, skills, transport links and development opportunities in place to realise our ambitions to grow our economy even further.”

The report also highlighted sector strengths in pharmaceuticals in Cheshire East; nuclear in Warrington; and financial services in Chester.

It also indicated that businesses were not automatically collaborating with existing knowledge resources in the region, such as the Universities of Manchester, and Liverpool and Daresbury Laboratories.

Among the recommendations set out, the report suggested land and property provision for manufacturing companies to grow and to attract new firms to the area.

In summary, it stated more work with automotive, chemicals and pharmaceutical industries could be undertaken to understand the opportunities presented by existing players in these spheres.

Howard Hopwood, deputy chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP commented; “Cheshire is the best kept secret in the UK. Our economy is very vibrant and contributes £22billon to the national economy.

“Cheshire and Warrington remains an important manufacturing economy with a higher proportion of output gained from manufacturing than Merseyside, Greater Manchester or Lancashire.

“Our manufacturing location is of great importance and the message we are delivering is just how strong Cheshire and Warrington is and what great opportunities exist here.”

Software and digital media was pointed to as a potential growth area for the country in general, and therefore a sector for Cheshire and Warrington to capitalise on.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .