Page 99 - Minutes of meeting

The Productivity Challenge

Employment and Business Base

The business base in Barrow exhibits specialisation in a number of sectors:

+ Utilities and waste was the sector with largest relative advantage compared to England (LQ of 2.41), albeit being small in
size (20 businesses). It experienced notable growth (+33%) between 2014-19.

+ There were 200 businesses in the hospitality, leisure and recreation sector, an 11% growth since 2014. It has an LQ of
1.47.
Barrow’s Business Strengths, 2014-19
+ The business support services sector noted significant growth
(+111%), which brought the number of business in 2019 to 200. It
ranked third in terms of relative importance to the Barrow economy (LQ

of 1.39). Low Presence, High Growth High Presence, High Growth

+ With 290 business, the construction sector is the most important in

absolute terms to the Barrow economy. It grew by 12% since 2014 and
had an LQ of 1.28.

+ In the manufacturing sector, there were 105 businesses (+5% growth).
It has an LQ of 1.17. BAE and Kimberly Clark are amongst the key
employers in this sector.

High Presence, Low Growth
+ The retail sector had 215 businesses (+2% growth) and an LQ of 1.16. Low Presence, Low Growth

+ The public administration, education and health sector had 110
businesses (+10% growth) and an LQ of 1.07. A number of Barrow’s key
employers, including the Furness General Hospital, can be classified in
this sector.

Source: UKBC, ONS, 2019 Note: Figures based on Barrow LA. The Business LQ is defined against England where England = 1.0.