Tomorrow's City Economies: where will the new jobs come from?

Date: 07/10/2009 17:45pm

Speakers:

David Willetts MP (Shadow Minister for Universities and Skills)  

Sir Howard Bernstein (Chief Executive, Manchester City Council)

Felicity Goodey (Chief Executive, MediaCityUK)

Amy Chalfen (Openreach)

Chair: Dermot Finch (Centre for Cities)

The UK economy will look very different after this recession. But where will economic recovery come from? The city economies of the future, and their contributions to the national and global economies will in all likelihood be characterised by a greater number of innovation-led, creatively focused and green jobs.  What underlying infrastructure will be required to transform our economy and skills to deliver competitive advantage and differentiation for the UK to ensure a sustainable future for all of our cities and beyond?

What can the government, cities and businesses do to deliver the infrastructure that will successfully underpin the new city economies, promote growth sectors and re-skill urban workforces so they're ready for the upturn? 

Liberal Democrat party conference, 22 September

At Liberal Democrat party conference in Bournemouth, our panel included Phil Willis MP (Chair, Innovation, Universities, Science & Skills Select Committee) Cllr Warren Bradley (Leader, Liverpool City Council) Bob Challacombe (Openreach) and Dermot Finch (Centre for Cities)

Debate centred on the importance of delivering future proof and flexible infrastructure to support future growth in city economies - in a tight fiscal climate.  Phil Willis made a spirited case for teaching entrepreneurship in schools and incentivising on the job training.

Labour party conference, 27 September 

The panel included CLG's newest minister, Barbara Follett, BT's Dorothy Smith, Online Dragon Julie Meyer, David Frost from BCC, Will Hutton, with Dermot Finch chairing.  The debate focused on potential future sources of growth for cities - from wind farms in East Anglia to online start ups and the skills and infrastructure needed to help them grow.  Will Hutton bet the panel that education and health sector would continue to grow over the next decade.  The future for regional development agencies was also debated.