A year of progress- driving Inclusive Growth in Leeds
Just over a year ago, we launched the second Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy, a blueprint for a more inclusive, healthier, and greener city. Our strategy outlines three key themes of People, Place, and Productivity, and is delivered through nine 'big ideas'.
Leeds has a thriving economy and we are on a journey to ensure that it works for everyone. Our strategy helps us build on the success of the previous few years and reflects the challenges of tackling poverty and inequality which forms a central part of our Best City Ambition.
The Inclusive Growth Delivery Partnership has already grown to over 1500 members across the city (including businesses, third sector and other public sector partners) and together as #TeamLeeds we’ve made significant progress on a number of projects which are working towards achieving benefits that impact everyone in the city. These include:
People:
Investing in Skills: Our Employment and Skills Leeds Adult Learner and Employer Proviser Apprenticeship Service has achieved an Outstanding Ofsted rating, empowering individuals through adult learning and apprenticeship programs
Inspiring Talent: We've hosted successful careers fairs, like the Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair, attracting over 11,000 attendees and connecting people with opportunities in emerging industries. Our Employment and Skills Leeds team have engaged with over 13,500 people and helped just over 3,000 people into work (2023-2024).
This is all driven through our Future Talent plan which aims for the city to work together to enable the right opportunities for people and businesses to thrive in a rapidly changing labour market, and ensure that nobody is left behind.
Place:
Accelerating Innovation: The government's announcement of the West Yorkshire Investment Zone is helping us deliver our innovation vision and accelerate the development of our £2billion city centre Innovation Arc
Fostering Economic Growth: UKREiiF 2024 was back in the city again and attracted13,000 attendees, whilst generating £38.5 million in local economic activity. The event is back again in 2025, and is looking to bring even further benefits to the city
Building a Sustainable Future: The completion of Phase 2 of the Flood Alleviation Scheme will protect thousands of residents and businesses, and is the result of excellent partnership and a proactive approach to flooding issues we have faced in the past
Leeds PIPES continues to expand, with £24.5 million funding recently secured from the government to extend the network into the South Bank. This will benefit up to 28 buildings and 8,000 residents, making it the most significant single investment into the project since its inception. Earlier in the year, over 250 council properties in the Lovell Park area were connected as well as Leeds Conservatoire.
Productivity:
Strengthening Business Partnerships: The Leeds Business Anchors Network launched in 2023 and unites businesses committed to increasing their contribution to Leeds. It builds on the already established Leeds Anchors Network which brings together 13 mainly public sector bodies, all of which have deep roots in the city
Planning for the Future: The joint vision between Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and the former DLUHC outlines a decade of growth and prosperity where we are committed to transformative regeneration in six of our key city centre neighbourhoods
Business support: over a three-year delivery period (2019-22), the Business Growth Service was estimated to deliver a net addition to GVA of £38.6m, with the AD:VENTURE programme delivering 1,678 new jobs across the City Region (2016-23) and the Digital Enterprise programme delivering 665 new jobs across the City Region (2019-23)
Improving Connectivity: WYCA's plans for a regional Mass Transit system and bus reform are progressing, with Leeds City Council backing the first phase.
There has been real progress over the past 12 months, however there is still more to be done. Continuing with our Team Leeds ethos will see more positive outcomes throughout 2025, with some key updates on programmes such as Mass Transit and the Investment Zone.
Find out more about the Leeds Inclusive Growth plan by visiting the website, and if you want to be involved, you can join our Inclusive Growth Delivery partnership.
School Business Leader
5dAs a wheelchair user and blue badge holder, parking in the city centre is a necessity to access shops and services. But the ever reducing parking options are making this impossible. I work for the council and actively support Leeds in growing and strengthening. But increasingly I feel isolated as cities including Leeds look to remove vehicles. Park and Ride isn’t an option when each bus only takes one wheelchair, sadly, it’s not an equitable or inclusive option.
Director at Clark Legal
6dYes , and no decent alternative public transport, only 1 train station, no tram system (even though many tracks still there ) about to spend 13.5 million on a new roundabout /traffic light system at Lawnswood when they could try putting in a pedestrian crossing first . Not particularly helpful bike lines down the Otley road -the ones there were perfectly fine ( I commute to work by bike and have done for 28 years ) .
in sales.liam looking for work as shop or store manager around leeds12
1wYou can’t drive into Leeds centre and shop anymore, stores are closing down faster than ever. Progress ???????