Regional Profile Chester - Cordant People Be Integral - Cordant Recruitment
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Cordant People
Be Integral
Regional Profile
Chester
Regional Profile:
Chester
Overview of Chester Chester
Economy
Cheshire Local Enterprise Partnership Business Plan
Future funding 9,000 jobs by 2021
Population
Summary
Regional Profile:
Chester
Overview of Chester
History of Chester
Chester began when the Romans built a fort next to the
River Dee about 75 AD, but it was the Saxons who gave Chester
its name. In 1506 Henry VII gave Chester a great charter.
It was made a county in its own right separate from the rest of Today Chester contains many enviable assets
Cheshire. In 1538 Henry VIII closed the friaries in Chester. In 1540 he including:
closed the nunnery and the abbey and in 1541 Chester abbey was
made a cathedral. • Cathedral, Roman Walls, Amphitheatre, Medieval Castle and a unique
retail environment of the Rows – all within its historic centre
In 1801 Chester had a population of 15,000. By the standards of the
time Chester was a large and important town. Grosvenor Bridge was • Highly successful visitor attractions include Chester Racecourse and Chester Zoo
built in 1833 and the railway reached Chester in 1840. Central Station
was built in 1848 and from 1879 horse drawn trams ran in the streets • Higher and Further Education (HE/FE) institutions of the University of Chester and West
of Chester. Shipbuilding in Chester ended in the 1930s and the last Cheshire College
docks closed in the 1960s.
• Waterfronts and waterways of the River Dee
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | Summary
Regional Profile:
Chester
Overview of Chester
What can Chester offer?
Chester offers investors access to a huge workforce. There are 850,000 people of working age within a 30
minute drive of the city of Chester.
Gaining an experienced and senior workforce is important The Chester catchment area can provide an The catchment area of Chester represents a broad
to any investor. There are over 240,000 people working in employer with the skills required and with variety of sectors. Financial and business services
senior, management or professional roles living within a a greater proportion of staff holding NVQ3 employ large numbers of people but the area also
30 minute commute of the city of Chester. The city has a skills or above (A level or better) than the UK out-performs the UK in levels of employment based in
thriving economy and the Chester catchment area has an average, there are tremendous opportunities for higher value manufacturing activities.
unemployment rate significantly lower than the regional employers to recruit a highly skilled workforce.
average. (As a county Cheshire currently has the ninth School results for the area also outstrip the Cheshire has been recognised by international investors
largest economy in the UK, delivering some £20 billion national average. in business services, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and
GVA.) automotive assembly with a relatively high proportion of
The area has access to a large number of inward investment being undertaken in these sectors.
Highly Skilled Workforce Higher Education institutions both for graduate
recruitment and collaborative research projects. The strength of the location as a highly effective base
Despite the strong labour market, Chester is not an Between Liverpool and Manchester there for investment is underpinned by transport connectivity.
expensive location to hire staff. Wage rates for workers in are approximately 160,000 higher education Chester is just over 2 hours by train from London and
the Local Authority area covering Chester are in line with students – 14,600 of these are based at the virtually every UK city and several European cities can
the North West average and as a result can offer employers University of Chester. be visited on business with a return on the same day.
a cost advantage over the UK average wage costs.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | Summary
Regional Profile:
Chester
Economy of Chester
Major industries of Chester
Chester’s main industries are now the service industries comprising
tourism, retail, public administration and financial services.
The visitor economy is a key contributor to Increased demand for healthcare services Airbus UK factory –
the economic performance of Chester and employs 6000 staff
wider Cheshire area. It currently contributes Chester is expected to experience a significant growth in elderly households
£1.8 billion to the Cheshire and Warrington over the next 15 years. This will require additional social, healthcare and housing Just over the Welsh border to
economy annually and employs over 27,000 support services to be planned for and provided, as well as a range of housing the west, Broughton is home
people. that meets household growth – and in particular the needs of an ageing to a large Airbus UK factory
population. (formerly British Aerospace),
Chester has a relatively large financial sector employing around 6,000 staff,
including: Energy Sector where the wings of the Airbus
• Bank of America, formerly MBNA Europe aeroplanes are manufactured,
The energy sector is recognised as a key sector for growth within the Cheshire and there are food processing
• NFU Mutual West and Chester District. Furthermore, there exist a number of opportunities plants to the north and west.
to increase the economic potential of the energy sector in a sustainable way. The Iceland frozen food
• HBOS plc These include shale gas exploration, developing the low carbon economy, for company is based in nearby
example through new technologies and products such as renewable energy and Deeside.
• M & S Money micro-generation, and exploiting the potential of the District’s key energy assets.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | Summary
Regional Profile:
Chester
Economy of Chester
Engineering expertise in the region
There are over 8,000 employed in architectural and engineering activities.
World Class Science Park - £20m boost
The world-class science park being developed by the University of Chester at Ince has had a near-£20m It will also explore energy consumption patterns over the next 30
boost. It has been successful in a bid for almost £7m from the Government to support the development years.
of an ‘energy demonstrator’ at its Thornton Science Park, formerly Shell Technology Centre.
The university describes the new facility as ‘a world-class seat of
Other partners and stakeholders have committed to investing a further £11m into the excellence’ housing the faculty of science and engineering which
project which will see the development of cost effective, environmentally includes the school of computer science and mathematics.
responsible sources of energy.
It is also home to the newly-developed ‘High Growth Centre’
Drawing on the capital equipment, facilities and experience of which is co-funded by the University of Chester and the European
Thornton Science Park and the academic expertise of the Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
university’s faculty of science and engineering which is based
there, the demonstrator will enable energy companies to The centre offers small and medium enterprises and new start-up
test new power saving and distribution technologies businesses valuable advice and support. It is designed specifically
enabling the development of low cost, green sources for companies operating in the advanced manufacturing,
of energy. automotive, engineering and environmental sectors.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | Summary
Regional Profile:
Chester
Economy of Chester
Chester to see major development
– brings construction jobs
The Chester City Place scheme is a 3.5-acre development site, Some key firms located in Cheshire include:
located adjacent to Chester Central Station, which is hoped to
become the city’s new Central Business District. There are plans to • Air Products • EA Technology Ltd • Shell UK Oil
construct seven new commercial blocks in the area over the course
of the next 14 years, creating a total of 440,000 sq ft of office space. • Amec plc • Flowcrete Group Ltd • Siemens
The first stage of this will see just one building constructed: a six- • AstraZeneca • Gist Ltd • Stobart plc
storey office block housing some 70,000 sq ft of space. This will be
built to the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard for sustainability, meaning • Bam Nuttall Ltd • Ideal Standard International • United Utilities
the eventual construction will have to be highly energy efficient. It
will be complemented by new public realm, which will link it to the • Bank of America • Innospec Inc • Urenco UK Ltd
station and Shropshire Union Canal.
• Bentley Motors Ltd • Marks and Spencer Money • Vauxhall Motors Ltd
By 2028, it is planned that City Place will offer up to 440,000 sq ft
of state-of-the art office space housed within seven office blocks, • Brunner Mond Group Ltd • National Nuclear Laboratory Ltd
creating around 3,500 jobs.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | Summary
Regional Profile:
Chester
Cheshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Business Plan
The Local Enterprise Partnership was established on 11th March 2011, to drive the economic growth
of Cheshire. It is a private sector led partnership and has the responsibility for speaking on and behalf
of businesses in the sub-region. It covers the unitary authority areas of Cheshire West and Chester,
Cheshire East and Warrington Borough Council.
The vision for Cheshire is to be the best performing sub-regional economy outside the Greater
South East - the preferred location for business because of its investment locations, connectivity,
highly qualified workforce and excellent quality of life.
Six strategic objectives are identified which are critical to delivering this ambition;
• A skilled and productive workforce • Deregulation
• Business growth • The rural economy
• Infrastructure and connectivity, • Promoting Chester
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | Summary
Regional Profile:
Chester
Cheshire Local Enterprise
Partnership Business Plan
Cheshire West and Chester Regeneration Strategies Business Quarter will bring employment:
The Chester One City Plan is a 15 year framework from 2012 to 2027. Delivery phases • The Business Quarter offers the potential for major mixed use
are broken down into phase 1 (0-3 years), Phase 2 (4-6 years) and Phase 3 (7-15 years). schemes that will bring employment and activity through small,
The vision of the plan is to raise the national and international profile of the city, to medium and large enterprises into the city.
compete more effectively with similar historic cities as a desirable and distinctive place
to live, invest in, do business, visit and study. • It comprises Chester Central, with the opportunity for
500,000sq ft high quality office space to improve Chester’s
One of the strategic objectives central to achieving this vision is “creating a regional commercial offer.
economic driver - supporting local creativity, learning and entrepreneurs, encouraging
inward investment and stimulating business growth”. The One City Plan identifies a • Further commercial development opportunities
number of development opportunity areas across the city. are identified at the City Centre North
Gateway.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Cheshire Local Enterprise
Partnership Business Plan
Ellesmere Port Vision and Strategic Regeneration Framework
The Vision and Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) aims to stimulate, focus and support activities
and developments in Ellesmere Port over the next 10-15 years which can advance ambitions for the
economic development and physical improvement of the town centre and surrounding areas.
Key objectives of the SRF are:
• to attract new investment
• to harness employment opportunities particularly in growth sectors
• to ensure benefits are maximised for existing residents and businesses
• to enhance the quality of open space and under-used land
• to enhance the education and skills of local residents.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Cheshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Business Plan
Delivering Employment Growth
The Strategy has seven themes which includes ‘delivering An Implementation Plan has been prepared to
employment growth’, and recognising the significant support the delivery of the SRF and prioritise areas
employment land assets that are available in the area. for intervention. This recognises the existing stock
of employment locations in the area with their
The approach seeks to offer opportunities for the expansion potential to be enhanced. It also identifies the
of existing occupiers and attract new inward investment in the specialist sectors present in the area; the
target sectors of: Ellesmere Port Development Board will
continue to work with these partners to raise
• automotive the profile of Ellesmere Port’s strengths
within these industries and to attract new
• environmental technologies investment.
• chemicals
• retail/leisure
• logistics related uses.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Cheshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Business Plan
Future Districts of Employment Weaver Valley
The following areas are identified as having a significant contribution to future employment The Northwich Vision sets out the strategy for
development: the redevelopment of the town centre. It looks at
10 areas for redevelopment, 5 of which have the
• Eastern Employment Zone (New Bridge Road) is included as a significant development opportunity for potential for refurbished or new office space. The
industrial and leisure uses. An Area Development Framework for the area has been prepared. aim is to strengthen the current economic base of
the town centre through partnership working.
• Eastern Employment Zone (Stanlow) is a large petrochemical area to the east of Ellesmere Port,
owned by the Essar group. The area will continue to accommodate new energy related occupiers. In recent years Winsford has benefited from major
regeneration projects. A Neighbourhood Plan is
• Eastern Employment Zone (Ince Park) lies to the east of Stanlow. It is a green-field site with progressing alongside the Local Plan which will
planning permission for an Energy from Waste facility and a Resource Recovery Park with space for shape future growth in Winsford, focusing on
businesses in the waste and environmental sectors. housing, employment, retail and leisure opportunities
in the town.
• The Waterfront Hinterland includes Hooton Park (GM Vauxhall) and the Bridgewater paper mill site. A
case was made for an Enterprise Zone to be located in this area, however this was unsuccessful. Many
of the development opportunities in this location remain within the control of the planning authority.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Cheshire Local Enterprise
Partnership Business Plan
Rural Strategy
The Rural Regeneration Strategy provides a framework over the next 10 years, influencing the way that the
Council invests and supports its rural area, and the businesses, people and places within it.
The Strategy has an economic focus and creating the suitable conditions for enterprises to thrive. It suggests that
the rural area has been making a disproportionate contribution to Cheshire West and Chester’s economic growth
over recent years.
Jobs in the rural area – 3,800
It seeks a growth of 7% in the number of jobs available in the rural area, equating to 3,800 jobs being created in the rural
area over the next 20 years.
It also aspires to growth in economic output by 50%, making it necessary to significantly increase the value of economic
output created by each job.
This can be achieved in part by attracting new businesses which operate in higher value sectors and markets but will also require existing
companies (of low, medium and high output values) to increase their productivity by adding value to their output and exchanging lower
value for higher value activity. The strategy recognises the importance of a positive planning framework required to enable this growth.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Future funding 9,000 jobs by 2021
Funding of £15.3 m for 2015/16 and 36.7m for 2016/17 to 2021 The Cheshire LEP and Central Government have agreed to co-
invest in the following jointly-agreed priorities:
The Cheshire LEP has secured £142.7m from the Government’s Local Growth Fund to support
economic growth in the area – with £15.3m of new funding confirmed for 2015/16 and 36.7m Chester Central – Inner ring road junction improvements and bus
for 2016/17 to 2021. infrastructure measures including a new bus interchange to free
up capacity and open up development sites to accommodate city
This includes: as part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to the Cheshire LEP an centre growth. These measures are critical components of the
indicative award of a further £71.7m of funding for projects starting in 2016 and beyond; and city’s regeneration plans, enabling the mixed-use development
£19m of funding which the Government has previously committed as part of Local Growth Deal of Northgate, (brown field developable land earmarked for the
funding to the area. development of retail and leisure led mixed use scheme with a
gross development value of £313m.)
This substantial investment from Government will bring forward at least £50m of additional
investment from local partners and the private sector. Combined together this will create a total Skills Capital – Employer informed programme to address skills
new investment package of £192.7m for the Cheshire & Warrington area. needs in engineering, energy, logistics, manufacturing, agri-tech
and sports science. Focus on estate renewal and employer led
By 2021, this Deal will create at least 9,000 jobs and allow 400 homes to be built. business hubs.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Future funding 9,000 jobs by 2021
Growth Objective
Future success in the region for the period to Businesses have expressed the need to kick-start the growth programme and
2030 would look like: maximise new employment opportunities in the short-term through:
• Increased annual GVA by at least £10 billion to some • sector-focused property developments geared to capturing business growth opportunities
£30 billion through accelerated growth by way of
existing businesses and new start ups. • engendering entrepreneurship through business generation centres offering both incubation
facilities and much needed on-the-ground business advice
• Increased population by 100,000 involving the
need for 70,000 new homes. • working with the Higher and Further Education sectors to ensure that adult courses reflect
business needs
• Over 20,000 jobs created with a key
focus on manufacturing and exports. • helping the rural areas to move to a low carbon lifestyle through digital technologies
• promoting the development of a major transformational tourism project in Chester
• developing local supply chains for major manufacturers
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Population
In the 2011 Census there were 90,524 people living within the Chester
urban area, which included Christleton, Waverton and Saltney.
Age Distribution Proportion, UK Comparison Top Sectors by Location Quotients
The scale of the Chester catchment area allows a total population of over 1.3 million people to Sector Cheshire West and Chester
be reached in half an hour’s drive. Not only does Chester have a large working age population Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products 13.76
within its catchment area but that workforce is more likely to work in management or as senior Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products 4.55
officials than in other locations across the North West. Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 4.03
Financial service activities, except insurance
There are a minimum of 65,000 working age people for every grade of employment providing and pension funding 3.05
employers with choice and the opportunity to recruit a balanced workforce. Veterinary activities 2.55
Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products 2.09
The Chester catchment area also has a greater proportion than the national average working in Fishing and aquaculture 2.09
administration; personal service occupations; sales and customer services; as well as process, Forestry and logging 1.90
plant and machine operations. Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities 1.83
Other mining and quarrying 1.73
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Population
Employment by Selected Sectors, 30 Minute Drive Time Why is workplace training important for the over 50’s?
Sector Total Number Applicants over 50 will have good solid work experience but are sometimes faced with a need
Specialised construction activities 15,629 to retrain in order to be considered for a career change or promotion, particularly as technology
Manufacture of food products 12,689 develops at a rapid pace. It is crucially important for companies to encourage further training
Financial service activities, except for “all” employees, especially as the country faces an ageing workforce. Additional training
insurance and pension funding 11,797 keeps employees up-to-date and investing in the older worker has never been more vital
Manufacture of chemicals and because by 2020 those aged 50 and over will make up a third of the UK’s workforce.
chemical products 8,805
Legal and accounting activities 8,596 As a recruitment agency we appreciate that the need to maximise the use of older talent has
Services to buildings and landscape activities 8,425 never been more pressing and the development of skills has a key role to play in enabling older
Activities of head offices; management people to work both effectively and productively as well as participate in the labour market for
consultancy activities 8,263 longer, which is crucial for the UK economy.
Architectural and engineering activities;
technical testing and analysis 8,168 The needs of the workers in Generation Y, Generation X and the Baby Boomers are different
Manufacture of motor vehicles, – younger workers need to train older workers technology and social media. (Generation Y is
trailers and semi-trailers 7,837 those 18 to 32 years old; Generation X, those 33 to 48; and Baby Boomers, 49 to 67.)
Manufacture of other transport equipment 7,564
As management shifts to a younger generation companies must focus and address the
challenges of managing multiple generations.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Summary
Challenges for Chester
Chester is a sought after residential area and its economy remains a base
for some highly visible and large employers. Also, the skills of the city’s
residents are significantly higher than the national average.
The city has a strong business base in the sectors of finance, insurance and professional services, as well as
considerable expertise in the legal and judiciary professions and veterinary science. It is important that these
sectors are supported to increase investment and employment into the city.
Innovation will be a central factor in Chester’s economic growth. Growing opportunities will exist within
the energy and environmental technologies sectors. However, the long-term economic issue for Chester
is likely to be, as with other regions in the UK, the city’s ageing workforce and of course, skill shortages.
It is therefore crucial that employers seek to engage young people and train them efficiently in order to
accommodate future economic development.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Summary
Advantages of recruiting young people
Young people often have an abundance of energy and a natural thirst for
knowledge, which can rub off on colleagues and help invigorate the workplace.
Chester is now more diverse than it has ever been and new ideas are being conceived everyday – Fresh ideas
students in the city contribute to Chester enormously.
It is also important to remember that
As a recruitment agency we witness how young people tend to push themselves, wanting to make any young person could be the next Bill
a lasting impression and prove what they can do. Their sheer determination to complete their work Gates or Mark Zuckerberg. Furthermore,
can inspire colleagues around them. Therefore, if a company puts sufficient time and thought into although they lack experience, new young
recruiting young people, it can subsequently provide a very positive return on investment. people are generally easier to train, due to being
driven and eager to excel.
There are clear business benefits to employing young people
It is crucial for the wellbeing of young people that businesses take real ownership for skills
development and good job creation – it is by local employers accepting responsibility that the
whole community will achieve a positive impact and sustainable employment.
Overview | Economy | Workforce Skills | SummaryRegional Profile:
Chester
Summary
Cordant’s Objectives
Cordant People constantly At Cordant People we recognise, completely, that the long-term economic health of towns and
cities rests on investment in citizens’ skills and professional qualifications.
endeavour to develop and
nurture relationships which they Also as a recruitment agency we acknowledge our responsibility “that we must always be at the
have with all their candidates forefront of industry knowledge for every region”.
on their database, as well
Chester will improve and enhance its role as a knowledge-based, high value business hub,
as continually seeking and driving economic prosperity – growing enterprise within the city centre and establishing the
engaging with new reputation of Chester as a place open to business.
candidates to attract
It is, therefore, our objective to help and assist all companies in the region of Chester to recruit
fresh talent. and employ successful candidates in order that they may fulfil business targets and compete in
today’s increasingly competitive global markets.Cordant People
Supporting local businesses with their employment needs.
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