Greater Manchester is a world-renowned centre of industry, innovation, enterprise and creativity. Developing a local industrial strategy is an exciting opportunity to build on the region’s pioneering history and drive the city-region forward as a global economic powerhouse.

As one of just three ‘trailblazer’ areas in the UK, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is working collaboratively with government to develop a local industrial strategy. It will be a joint plan for creating exciting, well-paid jobs in new industries, and upskilling and increasing competitiveness in Greater Manchester’s high employment sectors. It will set out how the GMCA will build on Greater Manchester’s unique strengths and opportunities, and capitalise on the creativity of our people, to create a digitally-enabled, green city-region.

It will provide a framework for aligning local and national decision-making and investment – including the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Industrial Strategy Challenge Funding, Greater Manchester Investment Funds, and Sector Deals – to create a more inclusive economy where all residents can contribute to, and benefit from, growth.

Due to be agreed in March 2019, the local industrial strategy will build on the current Greater Manchester Strategy and the Government’s modern industrial strategy and will be grounded in a robust evidence base, currently being developed by leading experts through the Greater Manchester Independent Prosperity Review.

It will also incorporate the work that the GMCA has been doing jointly with employers and employees to develop a Good Employment Charter and help employers reach excellent employment standards and increase productivity as a result. You can help shape the Good Employment Charter at the consultation here.

Why Are the GMCA Consulting

The GMCA wants to hear from everyone with an interest in Greater Manchester’s future growth and prosperity, including businesses, business representative organisations, universities, colleges and schools, the community and voluntary sector, and residents. Please share this consultation with anyone you think will be interested.

Your views will help the Mayor of Greater Manchester, the GMCA, and the Government to shape the future of the city-region’s economy, by specifically looking at:

  • What the main focus of our local industrial strategy should be
  • What our globally competitive strengths and main growth assets are
  • What support is needed to grow the economy
  • How we ensure all residents can access opportunities
  • How we capitalise on the opportunities created by global changes such as decarbonisation and digitalisation

It will take around 20 minutes to complete this survey.

The survey will close on Sunday 25 November.