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24 January 2008
Sheffield reveals its Masterplan for the future
An ambitious programme to continue Sheffield's economic revival was unveiled at the London Stock Exchange on 17 January by Creative Sheffield, the UK's first city development company.
The Sheffield Economic Masterplan aims to create 30,000 new jobs across the creative industries, e-learning and digital sectors, as well as financial services, giving the local economy a £1 billion boost. A proposal for a 1.5 million sq ft New Business District would provide top class offices in the city centre to meet the demands of existing and prospective businesses. The UK's second economic growth pole would be created by working with Manchester and Leeds.
One element is to build on the city's already successful CDI (creative and digital industries) sector, which grew 19% in the last five years, more than in any other UK city. The first of five buildings forming the Sheffield Digital Campus is already underway, creating the basis of the new Digital Square Mile in the city centre.
A number of construction projects, including the £600m Sevenstone retail centre in the heart of the city and the creation of the 56,000m2 Electric Works digital complex which opens in November, reflect growing confidence in Sheffield. The latest big development lined up for the city centre is a futuristic building of offices, apartments and shops designed by the same architects who produced the London 'Gherkin' skyscraper. This scheme represents the third phase of the Digital Campus.
Creative Sheffield marketing director, Brendan Moffett, said: 'With companies such as ZOOTech and Warp being based in Sheffield, and with bands such as the Arctic Monkeys, Reverend and the Makers and Richard Hawley all blazing a trail for the city, we are very well placed to attract some of the most exciting and interesting businesses here. Coupled with this, the two universities are firmly committed to producing high-calibre graduates to meet the demands of the growing CDI sector.’
Sheffield’s two universities figure strongly in the Economic Masterplan and will be in the forefront in delivering a number of programmes while supporting many more. The Masterplan aims for more engagement between the universities and Sheffield companies. The joint venture between the University of Sheffield and Boeing, which created The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, and in turn, the Advanced Manufacturing Park is a world class example of turning research into high value investment.
Employers looking to operate in a vibrant city with a steady supply of creative and talented people are attracted by Sheffield’s popularity as a city for students and an increasing proportion of them wishing to stay after graduation.
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