Creative Sheffield, the UK's first city development company, has launched an ambitious Economic Masterplan to continue the region's economic revival and to expand the city based on new, better-paid jobs.

Eighteen months in preparation, the Economic Masterplan includes ambitions to create 30,000 new jobs, to build a 1.5 million sq ft New Business District in order to attract inward investment and to work with Manchester and Leeds to create the UK's second economic growth pole.

Creative Sheffield chief executive, Ian Bromley, said: "This is the most authoritative business plan any UK city has seen.

"Sheffield had the highest level of employment growth of all UK core cities during the ten years to 2005, with 73,000 new jobs, which shows we have the track record to deliver on our ambitions."

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The Economic Masterplan spells out how 30,000 new jobs will be created. It also explains how 16,000 people currently without work in the region will be brought into employment.

Much of the city’s recent growth has been in the creative and digital industry (CDI). Sheffield's CDI sector grew 19% in the last five years, more than in any other UK city, and film, design, interactive media and games will form the basis of the new Digital Square Mile in the city centre.

John Hudson, Creative Sheffield's director of enterprise and skills, says: "People and Skills are at the heart of the Masterplan. Major projects are in place to bring people into the economy through employment and self-employment.

"The City will provide substantial support to individuals, employers and enterprise to give people the essential job and business skills, not just for their current work but also to help them fulfil their aspirations"

In order to establish a Northern 'super city' as a second UK economic growth pole Creative Sheffield has already opened negotiations with Leeds City Council and has commissioned a study into the subject with Manchester City Council.

(GK)