News | Thursday, 13th June 2019

Manchester Metropolitan backs Greater Manchester’s Local Industrial Strategy

The University is a key partner in the cultural, health, digital and green energy sectors

Manchester Metropolitan University has backed Greater Manchester’s new Local Industrial Strategy to advance the city-region’s position as a leader in the digital and creative sectors, advanced materials and in health innovation.

The new strategy was launched today by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, with Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Deputy Mayor for the Economy, Sir Richard Leese.

Greater Manchester is only the second place in the country to agree a Local Industrial Strategy with government.

It will harness the full power of the most advanced devolution deal of any city-region in England for the benefit of almost three million residents, linking with key partners such as Manchester Metropolitan to tackle key issues.

At the heart of the strategy is the goal to become the UK’s first city-region to achieve carbon neutral living, through its Clean Growth Mission. Greater Manchester’s 2038 carbon-neutral target is 12 years ahead of the national goal.

Integral

Professor Malcolm Press, Vice-Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Manchester is a global city with a significant role to play in the UK’s industrial strategy.

“By working in partnership on the Local Industrial Strategy we can help drive Greater Manchester forward to become the true northern powerhouse and benefit all the people who call this great city home.

“Manchester Metropolitan’s research on green energy, its work on plugging the digital skills gap and providing the workforce of the future, and our place at the heart of the city’s creative and cultural industries means we are an integral part of Manchester’s future.” 

The Greater Manchester Local Industrial Strategy represents a strong partnership between local leaders, including Manchester Metropolitan, and government. It will focus on addressing three key areas: population health; education and skills; infrastructure and transport capacity.

The strategy will tackle these barriers, while also responding to global changes affecting all residents including the climate crisis, technological advancement, the Fourth Industrial Revolution – also known as Industry 4.0 – and an ageing society.

Manchester Metropolitan will play a key role in these areas as a leader in developing and implementing Industry 4.0 opportunities – and protecting against cybercrime through the Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry – as well as tackling the issues posed by an ageing society.

The University’s creative excellence is nationally renowned with the Manchester School of Art, Manchester Writing School and Manchester Fashion Institute. It will also be home to Manchester’s first poetry library and the upcoming School of Digital Arts (pictured below).

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “This bold and innovative joint plan between Greater Manchester and the Government puts Greater Manchester back as an industrial and social pioneer. This is a plan focused on people and ensuring we have the good quality jobs to ensure people can succeed now and in to the future. In Greater Manchester, we led the first industrial revolution and are now in a position to lead the fourth. 

“We want to be the UK’s leading green city-region, which is why our ambition to achieve carbon neutral living by 2038 is right at the heart of these plans. We will show that these plans are not just the right thing for people and the environment but also right for our economy.

“We’re also setting out how advanced manufacturing along with the digital and creative sectors will now help to grow our economy and help us become a wholly digitally-enabled city-region. The Local Industrial Strategy will enable us to drive our productivity and prosperity as we create the good, green jobs and skilled workforce that will power this thriving city-region’s economy into the future. 

“This comprehensive Strategy is yet another step on our devolution journey and will help Greater Manchester to become one of the best places in the world to live, work and invest in. 

“And we are putting together the pieces of the jigsaw to reveal the big picture – a Greater Manchester where prosperity, opportunity, health, hope and happiness are widely and fairly shared across all our people and places.”

The strategy’s commitment to drive prosperity and productivity across all 10 boroughs will be supported by the approach already outlined in the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter.

See here to find out more about the Greater Manchester Local Industrial Strategy.