Telford's Future
As we celebrate Telford’s 50th anniversary, it is right that we look to our future.
Telford’s success has always been its ability to adapt and change, meeting challenges and overcoming obstacles along the way.
In recent years, we have seen a huge boost to Telford’s economy, with unemployment falling across all age groups – and a marked decline, especially, among those ages 16-24.
We have become a centre for enterprise, growth and new jobs.
And while, nationally, over the next decade or so, some lower skilled sectors of the jobs market are forecast to shrink, the number of jobs in higher skilled occupations in other sectors are due to expand – including those in the hospitality and leisure, engineering and electrical sectors.
These are growth areas that present new opportunities for Telford – and we already have many success stories from these sectors in our area.
It is important, therefore, that we continue to provide platforms for business, as our labour market evolves – a fact highlighted by today’s Centre for Cities report, which ranks Telford as a city susceptible to low-skilled job losses.
So, to secure our future, we need to up-skill our workforce to take advantage of new opportunities. We are already positioning ourselves to do just that and we are doing so successfully.
Similarly, we need to do more to encourage and support local start-ups, as job creators of the future.
The forecast in the Centre for Cities report is a helpful reminder of where we need to focus our efforts. It is an analysis of our strengths and weaknesses at a time when we are making the transition from over reliance on jobs in sectors that are shrinking, to increased reliance on those sectors that will be offering the jobs of the future.
We need both local and central government to help encourage enterprise and improve our digital and transport connectivity, so we can capitalise on our strengths – and it is fantastic that Telford College has just received very significant Government funding to equip our young people for the jobs of the future.
The trades and occupations of the past may no longer be growth areas in the jobs market, but, with our focus on skills, enterprise and connectivity, and our continued ability to adapt, I am certain we can continue to attract business investment, improve our standard of living, and benefit from our country’s growing economy.