News

5 Jun 03

Partnership Working for Future Prosperity

Poole businesses met today with the Borough of Poole and partners to help kick start a programme of action to improve the future prosperity of Poole.

  • 46 delegates met to identify actions in three business led Task Groups dealing with Transport, Sites & the Labour Market. The key messages to emerge from the first meeting of these groups were:
  • Improved road links from Poole to the A31 are a priority for business \n
  • Improvements to the A350 and A338 links to the airport are also supported \n
  • There was a strong endorsement from business for Park and Ride \n
  • Bringing forward land for development to support expanding local businesses is a priority; there is a need to look closely at sites that have been allocated in the Local Plan but which are not coming forward to the market \n
  • There is a need to work harder on the development of Poole’s image as an area that welcomes business \n
  • The profile of Poole’s world class businesses and centres of excellence need to be raised further; career opportunities in these businesses and the skills young people need to take up these opportunities need to be publicised especially in schools at both primary and secondary level \n
  • Further research is required on the gap between skills required by employers in Poole’s key sectors and those available in the local labour market

"Poole has experienced high rates of development activity recently and this is putting pressure on the supply of sites and premises for local business expansion. I very much hope that the work of the Sites Task Group which I am chairing can have an impact on this situation ." Chris Heighway, Managing Director, Goadsby & Harding Commercial.

Councillor Ron Parker, Portfolio Holder for the Local Economy commented "We are delighted by the commitment shown by Poole businesses to making Poole a better place to do business. Only through businesses, business support organisations, strategic partners and the Borough of Poole working together can we make a real difference to the area’s prosperity."

It was recognised that involving all business consultees and the wider conurbation was vital. At a second annual ‘Making Poole a Better Place To Do Business’ conference, which will be held in November 2003, there will be feedback on progress to the wider business community.

-ends-

 

Peter Wheelhouse, Economic Development Manager

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