Stoke reinforces its change agenda

STOKE-on-Trent’s business community has been presented with an update on the city council’s Mandate for Change initiative at an event in the city.

The council’s economic development programme – launched a year ago – is based on four strategic aims:

• Make Stoke-on-Trent the place to bring business
• Support and develop existing business
• Work with people to promote independence and healthy lives
• Make Stoke-on-Trent a great city to live in.

Council leader, councillor Mohammed Pervez, said: “Our number one priority was and still is to create jobs.

“If we create jobs in Stoke-on-Trent then things will get better, it’s as simple as that. We have made savings to invest in our Mandate for Change to stimulate the local economy to bring prosperity in the city and continue with our regeneration agenda.

“We have been working with local businesses to create more jobs and we have been encouraging new business into the city by offering our red carpet treatment to inward investment. 

“We have bucked the national downward trend by creating around 4,000 jobs in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

“Since the launch of our Mandate for Change, we have achieved an enormous amount and there are plenty of encouraging signs that together, we are moving the city in the right direction.”

More than 200 people attended the breakfast update at the King’s Hall.