Thoughts and ideas shared as county looks towards 2050
BUSINESS, education and charity leaders and decision makers from across Gloucestershire have shared their thoughts on the county’s 2050 project.
Gloucestershire County Council Chief Executive Peter Bungard presented the findings of the 2050 Big Conversation exercise to the Circle to Success Leaders Focus Group, held at Randall and Payne’s Shurdington HQ.
The Big Conversation, held from January to June 2018, saw thousands of people offer their views on six ideas for the future of Gloucestershire.
These included a ‘super city’ between Gloucester and Cheltenham, developing national parks in the region and a new bridge across the River Severn.
Mr Bungard outlined for guests the urgency to deliver a strategy for the county that addresses the export of young people and impact of a growing ageing population on skills, which is already challenging in some sectors.
About 77 per cent of employers in Gloucestershire report they have ‘hard to fill’ vacancies.
It is estimated that economic growth will deliver more than 100,000 jobs in the county over the next 20 years, but there will be only 7,000 more 18 to 64-year-olds to fill them – unless something drastic is done.
Suzanne Hall-gibbins, co-founder of Circle 2 Success, hosted the event, and invited attendees to discuss their priorities for the next 10 years, to 2030, to feed into the ongoing 2050 project.
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Among the feedback were ideas on maximising the potential for cyber industries and innovation in the county and the importance of delivering projects that address economic inequality and opportunity for young people.
Delegates also recommended that young people should be invited to sit on the three boards now being formed to take the viable project ideas forward.
The boards, membership of which has yet to be announced, will cover the city-region, the Severn Vale and the rural proposals.