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A draft Economic Recovery Plan outlining a vision for ������վ’s future prosperity and recovery from the pandemic has been presented to the town’s Economic Recovery Taskforce.

Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the town’s economy. The Taskforce will steer development of the plan, in response to the true impact of the crisis and will work together to unlock and harness public and private investment to the maximum benefit of ������վ’s community.

The devastating impact has included:

• A major collapse in Gatwick Airport passenger numbers – nearly four million per month (2019) to 850,000 per month (2020) – has resulted in more than 7,000 redundancies at the airport – nearly 33 per cent of the workforce
• As many as 25,800 ������վ residents have been furloughed during the past year; this is 41% of the eligible local workforce
• Unemployment in ������վ has more than trebled from 2.4 per cent to more than eight per cent
• Youth unemployment is almost 13 per cent, which is nearly 1,000 young people

The Economic Recovery Plan is designed to provide a clear vision for ������վ’s future socio-economic prosperity, a clear path for recovery from the pandemic and a marker to ������վ’s formidable reputation for economic productivity.

The proposed strategic priorities of the plan are:

• A diverse and resilient economy – renew ������վ as an attractive, abundant, diverse economic powerhouse, founded on “green growth” and digital innovation
• Green transformation – establish ������վ at the forefront of “green growth” and as a place where green technology businesses thrive
• Town centre renewal – secure a vibrant neighbourhood and sustainable economic future for the town centre via significant qualitative investment
• Skills for the future – to significantly improve overall social mobility among ������վ residents, creating powerful and effective skills pathways
• Connected ������վ – to enhance a “green” economic future for ������վ by delivering low carbon transport and hyper digital connectivity

Also at the meeting, the Taskforce:

• Received a presentation from Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership on the Freeport bid. Freeport status for Gatwick Airport and Manor Royal would support the safeguarding and creation of jobs and help the recovery of the aviation sector. Plans will provide import and export incentives, unlock major infrastructure upgrades, and enhance the delivery of a potential new multi-million pound Innovation Centre
• Heard an update from Julie Kapsalis from Chichester College Group on their bid to secure investment in new skills training facilities at ������վ College which, if successful, would benefit residents and be focused on local employer needs
• Discussed the significant bid to the Towns Fund

The Taskforce brings together the council, senior business and voluntary sector representatives, ������վ’s MP, a government representative, the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and West Sussex County Council.

The final plan will be adopted in the summer, subject to a period of public consultation and consideration by the council’s Cabinet.

For more details on the Taskforce visit our ������վ Economic Recovery Task Force and Town Deal Board page.