DRAFT North Somerset Sustainable Community Strategy 08 - 26.pdf

North Somerset is a relatively prosperous area with low unemployment;locally it is 2%; nationally it is 5.1% 42 . Since 2000, the number of VATregistered businesses in North Somerset has increased by 9.5% to 6,140with increases in financial services, real estate, renting and businessservices 43 . Some occupational sectors are decreasing, includingagriculture, forestry and fishing, mining and quarrying andmanufacturing. Over 6000 people work in the tourism and hospitalitysectors, often in seasonal and lower paid employment 44 .The Regional Economic Strategy sets out those sectors where furtherdevelopment should be encouraged across the region. These include• Tourism; in North Somerset visitors already add a significant amountto the local economy, though quality could be improved toattract increased visitor spend and numbers.• Food and drink industries are another growth sector; locally a moredeveloped and safe café culture and good restaurants willimprove the night-time economy in our urban areas.• Creative Industries are to be supported and developed; in NorthSomerset we have a thriving network of artists and communitybased creative activity that contributes to the economy andquality of life across the District.The Regional Economic Strategy gives focus to improved skills andinnovation, with strong support for development of a ‘knowledge-driven’economy; with high skill levels in the work force in order to retainemployment, as low skill jobs move to countries with developingeconomies.The UK has a generally lower skills base than some of our maincompetitors. Currently, 7 million adults in the UK do not have thenumeracy skills expected of primary school leavers 45 . In North Somerset,our local population has more highly skilled and highly qualified residentsthan the South West and national averages 46 . However, we lack abroad range of high-level employment opportunities to match the skillsof our workforce.Across our district approximately 36% of residents out-commute for workeach day 47 , causing significant congestion and pollution in some areas.Most local residents live in our four main urban areas; development ofhigh-level employment opportunities on sites in these areas may helpreduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions across theDistrict.With a growing population of young people, we have a significantpotential future workforce. However, many young people leave thelocal area for higher education or employment opportunities notavailable locally. Recent successful development of Higher Educationfacilities through Weston College should encourage more of our youngpeople to remain in the area. Young people in North Somerset achieveabove average results in GCSEs 48 (though there is an achievement gapbetween those in Weston-super-Mare and the other parts of the District).16