Page 253 - Minutes of meeting

Draft Strategic Objectives

The contents of this research report validate the draft strategic objectives put forward by the Plan Development Group, as
follows:

10 Strategic Objectives Is the objective validated by the evidence?

To build on our strengths to help Barrow Yes: clusters of activity as shown by employment, businesses and GVA. Manufacturing accounts for 30%
become a centre of excellence and of employment and has an LQ of 3.82. Energy production accounts for approximately 1% of employment
innovation for advanced manufacturing and with an LQ of 1.76.
clean growth

To create a resilient local economy Yes: there are five large employers’ accounting for 12,100 employees in the town (43% of all BTD

through greater diversification, enhanced jobs). The foundational economy in Barrow is a major employer but the productivity gap between the
competitiveness and providing a wider town and the national average is pronounced. Self-employment levels are half that of the national
range of quality employment opportunities average and business birth rates are over a third below the national average.

To grow the working age population by Yes: Barrow is depopulating (-1% since 2013) and is forecast to continue to decline driven by falls in

creating an attractive and vibrant place to younger and working age cohorts. There is a net out-flow of those aged below 24 from the town.
live, work and visit

To equip people with the skills and Yes: There is a 16-percentage point gap between the occupations of BTD residents and the Barrow

confidence to achieve their potential to workforce, indicating that higher level talent is having to be imported into the area.
take full advantage of opportunities

To strengthen progression pathways Yes: Young people in Barrow need to be filled with confidence and a sense of opportunity to drive a

through a dynamic and integrated pipeline of future talent. The number of school leavers progressing to HE is much lower than it should
approach to school, further and higher be and higher-level skills are markedly under-represented with only 25% of the BTD area possessing
education NVQ L4+ qualifications

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