The Chancellor has made a major announcement in the 2023 Spring Budget set to unlock jobs and prosperity for Stoke-on-Trent. The city has been confirmed as a new location for a Levelling Up Partnership which will remove barriers and turbo charging our city’s economic growth.
The Levelling Up Partnership set up through the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, is set to help unlock barriers to opportunities and economic growth by working with local stakeholders in the city and supported by national delivery bodies. This aims to improve outcomes locally, and better coordinate government to support regeneration and the transformation of opportunities.
Since 2021, Stoke-on-Trent has seen huge Levelling Up investment announced in the Government’s aim to deliver growth and regeneration to the city. The work of Stoke-on-Trent MPs and the City Council have resulted in: £56 million through the Levelling up Fund, £40m through the Transforming Cities Fund, £31m from the Bus Service Improvement Fund; a Priority Education Investment Area, 500 Home Office jobs, the Family Hubs programme.
Recently, the city’s three MPs and Council leaders attended a roundtable at No.10 Downing Street, hosted, and chaired by Levelling-Up Secretary Michael Gove, to discuss the levelling up of opportunities in Stoke-on-Trent, focusing on: economic development and regeneration, transport, and culture & heritage in Stoke-on-Trent. This included national delivery bodies such as National Highways, Network Rail, Homes England, Historic England and the Arts Council. Local leaders stressed the importance of ensuring local Levelling Up investments receive the appropriate Government support needed to move forward and deliver.
Today’s announcement from the Chancellor has been widely welcomed by local leaders across Stoke-on-Trent.
Jack Brereton MP, Stoke-on-Trent South, said:
“Today’s announcement from the Chancellor is incredible. The hard work taken by the three Stoke-on-Trent MPs and Stoke-on-Trent City Council is continuing to pay off.
“Stoke-on-Trent has for so long been waiting to unleash the talent our people have to offer. We have received another major Government announcement that proves we are at the top of the list when it comes to the Government’s delivery of Levelling Up. Local leaders urged the Government for further support towards delivering on our investments, and they have listened.
“This Levelling Up Partnership will help unleash not just economic growth for our city but better opportunities and prosperity for everyone living locally. I have seen the fantastic work done by local leaders and stakeholders to date and the support announced will significantly enhance this local work which I have no doubt will be historic moment for the future of Stoke-on-Trent. I truly believe we are on the up!”
Jonathan Gullis MP, Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove, and Talke as said:
"Another budget and another Chancellor who also recognises the importance of Stoke-on-Trent to this country's levelling up success.
"Today's success is made possible due to Cllr Abi Brown's hard work in delivering the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone, which in itself has created around 2000 new jobs in Stoke-on-Trent. Your local Conservatives have a record of success; creating around 9000 new jobs since 2015, 500 new jobs from the Home Office, and securing a UK leading £56 million investment from the government via the Levelling Up Fund.
"We have so much talent and opportunity, and today's announcement will help us to continue to deliver new jobs to Stoke-on-Trent, and help in unleashing Silicon Stoke, a chance to become a key player in the heart of the UK's digital revolution."
Jo Gideon MP, Stoke-on-Trent Central, commented:
"I am delighted by the announcement that Stoke-on-Trent has been chosen as a new location for a Levelling-Up Partnership in today’s budget. This is following months of representation, hard work and dedication by Stoke-on-Trent’s MPs and City Council to the highest levels of Government. This significant Government announcement is sure to bring about notable advantages to the local community by unlocking the city's potential for economic growth and delivering enhanced opportunities for all.
This is a remarkable achievement for the city and its people. We have already brought significant investment to the city, including £56 million through the Levelling Up Fund, and this announcement shows that our message is resonating with the government, and that investment in the transformation of Stoke-on-Trent is recognised as essential to the government’s Levelling Up agenda."
Cllr Abi Brown, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council has also commented:
“Commitment from the government to a Levelling Up Partnership once again underlines the impact that continually promoting Stoke-on-Trent in all the right places, highlighting the opportunities but also being honest about the challenges, is having. For far too long, our city was left behind and forgotten, with empty promises made locally and nationally. Working with our three brilliant MPs, I’m proud of the strides forward our city is making on a number of fronts, and welcome this commitment from the government to work even more closely to understand how to continue delivering for Stoke-on-Trent.”
