Strategy aims to cement Manchester’s status as green and digital centre

Greater Manchester’s plans to become the UK’s leading green and digital centre have been backed by the Government in the city-region’s new Local Industrial Strategy.

As part of the strategy, the UK’s first city-region Clean Growth Mission to achieve carbon neutral living in Greater Manchester has been launched.

The city-region’s  2038 target is 12 years ahead of the national ambition.

The innovative new strategy for Greater Manchester was launched by the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham with Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and deputy mayor for the Economy Sir Richard Leese.

The strategy sets out plans to cement the city-region’s leading position in the digital and creative sectors, as well as advanced materials manufacturing.

Andy Burnham said: “This bold and innovative joint plan between Greater Manchester and the Government puts Greater Manchester back as an industrial and social pioneer.

“This is a plan focused on people and ensuring we have the good quality jobs to ensure people can succeed now and in to the future.  In Greater Manchester, we led the first industrial revolution and are now in a position to lead the fourth.

“We want to be the UK’s leading green city-region, which is why our ambition to achieve carbon neutral living in by 2038 is right at the heart of these plans.  We will show that these plans are not just the right thing for people and the environment but also right for our economy.

“This comprehensive Strategy is yet another step on our devolution journey and will help Greater Manchester to become one of the best places in the world to live, work and invest in.

Greater Manchester is only the second place in the country to agree a Local Industrial Strategy with Government, and its leaders are harnessing the full power of the most advanced devolution deal of any city-region in England.

The Greater Manchester Local Industrial Strategy represents a  partnership between local leaders and Government and is focused on addressing the findings of the Greater Manchester Independent Prosperity Review, which identified a set of barriers the city-region must address to improve its economic performance, including:

• Population health
• Education and skills
• Infrastructure and transport capacity

Sir Richard Leese, said: “Greater Manchester is known around the world for pioneering innovative collaboration and this plan, owned both by our city-region and Government, once again bolsters that reputation.

“By working with Government and key partners here in Greater Manchester we’re setting out how we will ensure that everyone benefits from the growth in our economy and the quality jobs that we’re creating.

“Central to that will be cementing Greater Manchester’s place as a leader in advanced manufacturing, health innovation and within the creative and digital sectors.  These key sectors are going to fuel the growth that all of our citizens will benefit from for years to come.”

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “Greater Manchester has a strong and proud manufacturing heritage and this new Local Industrial Strategy, developed in partnership between Government and local leaders across the city region, will ensure its world leading position in this field is secured and built on for the next generation.

“At the heart of this strategy is clean growth and Greater Manchester’s determination reap the rewards of the UK’s transition to a net-zero economy reinforced by the city region’s ambition to be the first carbon neutral city in the UK by 2038.”

And Juergen Maier chief executive of Siemens UK and member of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “Greater Manchester was at the heart of the first industrial revolution.

“This Local Industrial Strategy is designed to put the city region at the heart of the fourth industrial revolution, which is now transforming manufacturing around the world. The strategy will build on the ground-breaking Made Smarter Review and pilot to help SMEs in the manufacturing sector develop and adopt digital and environmental technologies to boost productivity, revolutionise manufacturing and accelerate commercial growth.”

Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Manchester, said: “The Greater Manchester Local Industrial Strategy builds on the existing strengths and great opportunities for the city-region which were validated by an expert Independent Prosperity Review. It is based on extensive discussions, consultations and inputs, and presents an exciting strategy for the future success of Greater Manchester.”

Mike Blackburn, chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “The development of the Greater Manchester Local Industrial Strategy has been a genuinely collaborative effort and the views and needs of business sit right at its core.

“The Greater Manchester Independent Prosperity Review confirmed that our economy is the most diverse in the country, making it resilient and robust. And it’s growing – with over 124,000 businesses, Greater Manchester is already a great place to live and work for many.”