Sheffield City Region businesses to discuss potential impact of Governments Industrial Strategy

In early May over 100 Sheffield City Region businesses will meet to discuss the results of the latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for quarter one 2017. The survey, which went live in February of this year, asked employers about their current trading conditions including skills and labour issues, and international trade, but also focused on the Governments Industrial Strategy Green Paper.

The event, to be held on the 5th May at The Source, will present the findings from the survey and compare them with previous quarters in order to understand business trends across the region.

Greg Wright, Deputy Business Editor of the Yorkshire Post will facilitate the QES Breakfast event when businesses will hear the results of the most recent survey and any economic trends. The morning event will also feature a keynote speech from John Millar on the Government’s Industrial Strategy and a lively debate concerning its impact on local business and the economy. John currently is the Assistant Director at The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and is the main contact for Devolution and Growth Deal issues in the Sheffield City Region.

Richard Wright, Executive Director at Sheffield Chamber of Commerce said: “All the Chambers in the region have consulted widely on the Industrial Strategy with members and fed back the results directly or through the British Chambers of Commerce. Generally the Strategy has been well received but gaps around planning, spatial strategy, and housing (for example) have been identified. There was some unease around Government chosing “winning sectors” and general support for a devolution agenda where local bodies can chose their priorities.

“Interestingly one of the common pleas was around implementation. The country has a track record of producing Industrial Strategies that are tinkered with constantly and changed between governments. We need a strategy that has buy-in from all parties and across all government departments and which we give time to mature and deliver its results.”

The Quarterly Economic Survey, sponsored by The Source, is supported by the Sheffield City Region’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and run by the four Chambers of Commerce in Barnsley & Rothrham, Doncaster, East Midlands and Sheffield. The first QES results breakfast event is to be held on the 5th May 2017, at The Source at 8am. To book your free place visit www.screconomy.org.uk/q1-qes-breakfast/