A new prospectus which demonstrates why Lancashire is THE place to do business will be unveiled at a major trade show tomorrow (Tue).
The prospectus, 'Invest in Lancashire – A place for growth', is the first major project to be completed under the Lancashire 2050 banner, the ground-breaking agreement backed by the county's 15 local authorities.
Each council has signed up to the Lancashire 2050 Framework to ensure they are aligned on key county-wide issues such as economic prosperity, skills and employment, transport and infrastructure, environment and climate, and housing.
The prospectus highlights the potential for future investment in the county, already the home of 55,000 businesses, supporting 640,000 jobs and a regional economy of £33.3billion.
It also details some of the exciting opportunities currently available across the county, including shovel-ready schemes with the connectivity and amenities required to enable all types of development to progress at pace and at scale.
It will be officially launched at the UK's Real Estate and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) event in Leeds, which runs from tomorrow until Thursday and brings together more than 6,000 delegates from the public sector, business investors, funders, developers, housebuilders and Government.
A delegation from Lancashire, including representatives from Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Preston City Council, Burnley Borough Council and the University of Central Lancashire, will unveil the prospectus while also promoting everything the county has to offer, while Blackpool Council will also exhibit its own investment prospectus.
Councillor Phillippa Williamson, leader of Lancashire County Council and Chair of Lancashire Leaders, said:
"Lancashire has a really proud record as a place to do business.
"We are a friendly, hardworking county right at the heart of the highest density of advanced engineering and manufacturing jobs in the UK.
"Lancashire is also on a high-growth economic trajectory, with innovation, net zero and advanced technology at its core.
"This new prospectus highlights the many opportunities available right across the county.
"These include everything from the anticipated regeneration of Morecambe thanks to the greenlit £100million Eden Project Morecambe, the world leading hub of innovation at Samlesbury Enterprise Zone and transformational plans for Burnley, including a new Canalside University Campus for UCLan, which is set to cater for 6,000 students.
"It really underlines our determination to significantly accelerate Lancashire's economic growth, helping to generate thousands of new high-value jobs, and become a trailblazer in tech, low carbon, digital and other in-demand and globalised industries."
Simon Lawrence, Director of Growth & Regeneration at Lancashire County Council, said:
"I'm really looking forward to being part of the Lancashire delegation to UKREiiF and speaking at some breakout sessions.
"The county has so much to offer for both businesses and investors, and this is a great opportunity for us to showcase what we are all about.
"We really want to hear from anyone who is interested in finding out just what Lancashire can offer them. Come and see us at stand K34 if you are attending and pick up a copy of our prospectus."
Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire, said:
"As the third largest university in the North West and the largest provider of graduate-level qualifications in Lancashire, we are proud to contribute so significantly towards the economic prosperity of the region.
"We are fully committed to collaborating on investment opportunities and to supporting businesses of all sizes to locate, innovate and thrive in Lancashire."