Residents and businesses can share their views on proposed plans to boost Bolton’s economic growth, bring in investment, and create more skilled jobs.
The Bolton Economic Growth and Resilience Plan has been drafted by the council and sets out a detailed strategy to respond to the challenges and opportunities facing the borough.
Bolton is benefiting from significant investment, is home to many major businesses, and a number of regeneration projects across the borough are already underway.
But, like many places across the UK, Bolton has also experienced challenges that impact on business productivity, inequality, and barriers to work, all of which have been made worse by the cost-of-living crisis.
Responding to these issues, The Bolton Economic Growth and Resilience Plan aims to address nine priorities across three key areas: People, Business, and Investment.
Each priority would be met by working closely with key stakeholders including the University of Bolton, Bolton at Home, the Chamber of Commerce, Bolton CVS, the Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub, local businesses and many more.
Economic priorities for local people include boosting wages, supporting residents into sustainable employment and matching skills training to the needs of employers.
Under the theme of business, the plan proposes creating new jobs in digital and health innovation, maximising the borough’s manufacturing strengths and helping firms to scale up.
The investment priorities set out in the strategy are the diversification of the town centre, attracting new businesses to the borough and building more resilient communities.
The document includes detailed actions across the short, medium, and long term to achieve these priorities along with detailed data analysis.
The full plan can be read on the council website.
Under the proposals, the strategy would be updated every five years to reflect changing priorities and economic trends.
A public consultation on the plans is now open and all feedback will be taken into account before a final draft of the plan is drawn up.
Bolton Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Akhtar Zaman, said:
“There is a lot to celebrate about Bolton’s economy but, like other areas, we also face challenges when it comes to growth, productivity, and access to good employment.
“This plan sets out how we will work with local partners to address our key priorities so Bolton’s economy can reach its full potential.
“It is vital that we now hear from as many people as possible about the proposed strategy so you can help shape the vision for Bolton’s economic future.”
Residents and businesses can take part in the online consultation until February 19, 2024.