The Chancellor has announced that Stoke-on-Trent has been confirmed as a new location for Levelling Up Partnership which will remove barriers and turbo charging our city’s economic growth. The announcement made in the 2023 Spring Budget set to unlock jobs and prosperity for Stoke-on-Trent.
The Levelling Up Partnership entails working with local stakeholders in the city and supported by national delivery bodies, to help unlock barriers to opportunities and economic growth. This helps local businesses in the area, having better outcomes, and better coordinate government to support regeneration and the transformation of opportunities.
Since 2021, Stoke-on-Trent has seen huge Levelling Up investment announced in the Government’s aim to deliver growth and regeneration to the city. The work of Stoke-on-Trent MPs and the City Council have resulted in: £56 million through the Levelling up Fund, £40m through the Transforming Cities Fund, £31m from the Bus Service Improvement Fund; a Priority Education Investment Area, 500 Home Office jobs, the Family Hubs programme.
Levelling-Up Secretary Michael Gove hosted and chaired a roundtable at N0.10 Downing Street, where the city’s three MPs and Council leaders attended. To discuss the opportunities of regeneration and Levelling Up of Stoke-on-Trent, the meeting consisted of focussing on: economic development and regeneration, transport, and culture & heritage in the city. This included national delivery bodies, such as National Highways, Network Rail, Homes England, Historic England and the Arts Council. It was stressed by local leaders that to ensure these Levelling-Up investments move forward and deliver that the Government give the appropriate support, so these investments can prosper and give the best results for the people of the city.
Jonathan said:
"Another budget and another Chancellor who also recognises the importance of Stoke-on-Trent to this country's levelling up success.
"Today's success is made possible due to Cllr Abi Brown's hard work in delivering the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone, which in itself has created around 2000 new jobs in Stoke-on-Trent. Your local Conservatives have a record of success; creating around 9000 new jobs since 2015, 500 new jobs from the Home Office, and securing a UK leading £56 million investment from the government via the Levelling Up Fund.
"We have so much talent and opportunity, and today's announcement will help us to continue to deliver new jobs to Stoke-on-Trent, and help in unleashing Silicon Stoke, a chance to become a key player in the heart of the UK's digital revolution."