A Community Strategy for Barnsley 2011 - 2015 - Barnsley Council ...

The Priorities and Catalysts for Change
The Priorities
and Catalysts
for Change
a closer look
Growing a 21st century economy
The Context
Significant progress has been made over the past few years
with the successful delivery of a number of major regeneration
schemes across the borough. However, despite these
developments a number of crucial challenges remain.
Structural changes that have taken place in the local economy
has resulted in job losses in older traditional industries and
there has been a large increase in the working age population
who are not engaged in formal employment. Many of these
people have limited skills, are dependent on benefits and rely
heavily upon council and other public services. In addition to
this the recent reduction in public sector expenditure is already
having a major impact on economic development and
regeneration work.
There are, however, some important and ambitious opportunities
for Barnsley to exploit. These include its sense of place and
community, its position in two City Regions, and its good
connectivity within the region and beyond. Other opportunities
include the potential of the digital and knowledge based
economy, looking to low carbon futures, the scope to improve
the area’s visitor economy through better operation of its
cultural assets (to attract visitors and spend) and the increasing
diversification of the economy as a whole, via the development
of small and medium enterprises (SME's)
In order to address the challenges and to maximise these and
other opportunities, it will be essential to work in partnership to
deliver a suite of priorities and key interventions, complete
major regeneration projects, target business development and
growth, and link new and existing jobs more effectively to local
people. All of this is needed to grow a 21st Century economy.
Why this priority is important for Barnsley.
Growing a 21st century economy by building on the
opportunities available and addressing the challenges identified,
is not just important, it is critical to Barnsley’s future and that of
its residents. It is critical because:
• We have an undersized economy which is too small for the
size of the working age population.
• We have an over reliance on Sheffield and Leeds for higher
paid “professional” jobs.
• There is an imbalance in the local economy, characterised
by a significant proportion of public sector jobs and an over
reliance on other jobs eg, construction, retail and low value
added manufacturing, all of which are affected by seasonal
variations.
• In some communities there is intergenerational
unemployment, combined with above average youth
unemployment levels.
• Much of the SME private sector economy is uncompetitive
and trades only locally. Unless this is addressed, there will
remain an inability to create the necessary job growth to
sustain Barnsley’s needs.
• We lose a disproportionate amount of disposable income to
other areas.
• There is a lack of serviced employment land available to
inward investors and indigenous company growth.
• Low skill levels result in low paid employment opportunities
for residents and skills shortages for businesses.
• Weaknesses in the current provision of transport by road
and rail.
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A Community Strategy for Barnsley 2011 - 2015