Prosperous Business, Prosperous Towns AMT Convention 2008 Skipton

Objectives How is your town doing The components of a sustainable market town economy Assessing current economic status and opportunities Potential strategies Inform AMTs policy paper, targeted at town partnerships and town councils

How is your town doing

The components of a sustainable market town economy

Assessing current economic status and opportunities

Potential strategies

Inform AMTs policy paper, targeted at town partnerships and town councils

Prosperity + Sustainable Communities What does it mean for a town?

What does it mean for a town?

Economic Foundations - role and sectors Yorkshire Forward 2008 report: ‘ Assessing the economic performance of rural capitals in Yorkshire and the Humber’ Status by function, size and location: Labour provider Business location Tourism hub No dominant role Sectors or general business hub; role of town centre

Yorkshire Forward 2008 report:

‘ Assessing the economic performance of rural capitals in Yorkshire and the Humber’

Status by function, size and location:

Labour provider

Business location

Tourism hub

No dominant role

Sectors or general business hub; role of town centre

Welland Market Towns Case Study An informal network of 14 towns supported by the Welland SSP : Bourne The Deepings Higham Ferras Irthlingborough Lutterworth Market Harborough Melton Mowbray Oakham Oundle Raunds Rushden Stamford Thrapston Uppingham

An informal network of 14 towns supported by the Welland SSP :

Bourne

The Deepings

Higham Ferras

Irthlingborough

Lutterworth

Market Harborough

Melton Mowbray

Oakham

Oundle

Raunds

Rushden

Stamford

Thrapston

Uppingham

Why benchmark? Powerful tool for the towns which assists in: Understanding their current relative strengths and weaknesses - crucial to targeting areas for improvement Seeing trends in the local economy -assists with early intervention if required Focussing forward strategies and action planning Effectively measuring the benefits of partnership activity

Powerful tool for the towns which assists in:

Understanding their current relative strengths and weaknesses - crucial to targeting areas for improvement

Seeing trends in the local economy -assists with early intervention if required

Focussing forward strategies and action planning

Effectively measuring the benefits of partnership activity

What is measured? Data is collected on 12 Key Performance Indicators : Retail offer observation commercial unit types key attractors vacant units retail property yields rental values profile of markets footfall counts Surveys on vitality Shoppers origin surveys Car parking provision and usage Business confidence Visitor satisfaction

Data is collected on 12 Key Performance Indicators :

Retail offer observation

commercial unit types

key attractors

vacant units

retail property yields

rental values

profile of markets

footfall counts

Surveys on vitality

Shoppers origin surveys

Car parking provision and usage

Business confidence

Visitor satisfaction

Website – www.townbenchmarking.org.uk

Wider town view - Sources of information Existing data Local authority + other local sources Primary Data Collection

Existing data

Local authority + other local sources

Primary Data Collection

West Yorkshire Case Study Slaithwaite Marsden

Slaithwaite

Marsden

Marsden and Slaithwaite Case Study Vision -> Plans A place to live and work for all the community The Green Valley Initiative Cluster of green business Environmental technology Sustainable building/ green building training facility

A place to live and work for all the community

The Green Valley Initiative

Cluster of green business

Environmental technology

Sustainable building/ green building training facility

Planning Future Action Situation Analysis (understand and measure current economic performance) Develop realistic plan for future economy Identify inputs required for plan (e.g. Skills gaps, need for more land for development) Determine actions – influencing or invest

Situation Analysis (understand and measure current economic performance)

Develop realistic plan for future economy

Identify inputs required for plan (e.g. Skills gaps, need for more land for development)

Determine actions – influencing or invest

Inward Investment AMTi Case Studies Strategy Strong authority Transport Links / car parking Environment Community facilities Housing Education institutions Technology Local fit with growth sectors + understanding Skills Land / property Business Support and Networking Promotion

Strategy

Strong authority

Transport Links / car parking

Environment

Community facilities

Housing

Education institutions

Technology

Local fit with growth sectors + understanding

Skills

Land / property

Business Support and Networking

Promotion

Conclusions Complicated picture Assessment process Local vision Intervention

Complicated picture

Assessment process

Local vision

Intervention