FORGE PRESS Friday March 6 2009
11
LOCAL NEWS
City Council forecast creation of another 30,000 jobs in Sheffield by 2020 By Charlotte Chelsom-Pill Plans have been outlined by Sheffield City Council to increase the city’s skills base following news that 30,000 jobs will be created in the city by 2020. The Sheffield City Centre Economic Masterplan was approved by the council last month. It aims to rejuvenate and expand the city centre, creating more than 30,000 new jobs. Of these, 25,000 jobs will primarily be created in officebased positions in the city centre. In response to Sheffield’s Economic Masterplan, plans are due to be unveiled by the council’s cabinet next Wednesday to improve the employability of Sheffield’s workforce. The Skills Strategy aims to increase the skill base of Sheffield’s workers in order to retain talent in the city.
Have your say Comment on this article at Forgetoday.com Send a letter to press.letters@forgetoday.com Text us on 07765363716 Tony Tweedy, Head of Skills and Lifelong Learning in the city, said: “Sheffield is at a crucial point in its economic transformation. “To both weather the worst effects of the recession and to prepare for the upturn that will follow, it is vital that the city’s population is properly equipped to take advantage of the opportunities that will emerge from a restructured, knowledgebased economy. “A workforce with high-level skills will be essential if the city is to attract inward investment and local businesses are to survive and grow in the global marketplace.” Educational achievement at all major levels in Sheffield is below UK averages for both young people and adults, and the city
is currently behind the national employment average. Iain Smith, of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, said: “We support the Masterplan and the objectives in it. We think it’s important that we close the prosperity gap with the England average, and so creating new jobs is a key part of this.” A spokesperson for Sheffield City Council said: “By 2020 Sheffield will be a city where people will have the right skills to take full advantage of every new economic opportunity and realise their full potential.” Councillor Sylvia Anginotti, cabinet member for employment and enterprise at Sheffield City Council, said: “It’s clear that the whole of the world is seeing the effect of the credit crunch and although Sheffield is in a good position, we are not immune. “I think it’s fair to have an aspiration and ensure that plans are in place ready fro the economic upturn. Realisitically it may be 2025 before this is delivered but the important thing is that we have a vision for the future of Sheffield and are ensuring that we are in the best possible position to take advantage of the economic upturn. “Sheffield’s regeneration will fuel the increase in jobs. We must create the right kind of environment for economic prosperity to grow and flourish. The City Centre Masterplan and Economic Masterplan go hand in hand.” Plans proposed by the Sheffield Economic Masterplan include the redevelopment and expansion of several locations in Sheffield. Two new business districts will be built. One will span St Paul’s Place, Barkers Pool and Moorfoot. The other will be in West Bar, extending the traditional professional and legal quarter. In total, three million square feet of new office floor space will be built over the next 12 years. The Masterplan also seeks to expand residential areas in Castlegate, Victoria Quays, Devonshire Quarter, and St Vincent’s.
St Paul’s Tower will create new office space.
Volunteers run for charities By Liz Moore & Ruth Corrigan Dedicated Sheffield fundraisers are once again hard in training for two annual charity sporting events. The Sheffield Half-Marathon and the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge will be taking place in April and June respectively, and participants will be helping to raise money for over 10 local and national charities. The Sheffield Half-Marathon is set to take place for the 11th consecutive year on Sunday, April 26, at 9.30am. The 13-mile route will start at Don Valley Stadium and then move through Sheffield city centre, along Ecclesall Road and finish back at Don Valley. Participants will help increase awareness for 10 charities, including the self-funded RSPCA Sheffield Animal Centre, whose aim is extend their newly built centre into a veterinary clinic,
memorial garden and exercise yard for the animals. Runners can easily set up their own fundraising page at www. justgiving.com. Last year’s race raised £12,000. Laura Abbott will be running the Sheffield Half-Marathon this year for the first time to raise money for the Animal Centre. She said: “With your help it will allow us to proceed with our plans for the future, ensuring that the animals at the centre get the highest level of care they deserve.” Meanwhile, the 13th annual Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge will see keen volunteers don their walking boots to raise money by undertaking a scenic 25-mile walk. Held on Saturday, June 3, in aid of Heart Research UK, the walk will cover three of the largest peaks in the Yorkshire Dales: Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. Despite the name, volunteers
are free to walk just one or two of the three peaks should they choose to. The official challenge is to complete the walk within 12 hours, though the charity reminds prospective participants that it is not a race. Heart Research UK leads the way on medical research into the prevention, treatment and cure heart disease, which is Britain’s biggest killer. The charity funds over £3.7million worth of research projects undertaken across the country. Denise Armstrong, Lifestyle Manager for Heart Research UK, said: “Walking regularly is great exercise to keep your heart healthy. “It helps tone your muscles, improves circulation and can make you feel happier and more relaxed.” The walk will begin and end in Horton in Ribblesdale, and consists of a total ascent of over 1,500 metres.
Photo: Olivia Lightfoot
Key developer falls By Robert Golledge A £400million redevelopment of Sheffield’s legal district is at risk after the property development firm behind the project entered administration this week. Castlemore Securities, who were signed up by Sheffield City Council to develop the brownfield site along the riverside, will try to continue working on the project. The project was set to include student and residential flats, restaurants, and a massive tower between Corporation and Bridge Streets and West Bar. Councillor Ian Auckland, cabinet member for sustainable development, said: “It is very disappointing that Castlemore has now been placed into administration as they were committed to producing a very high quality scheme on the West Bar site. “The collapse of the business is a result of the meltdown of the
property market and the lack of lending from banks.” PricewaterhouseCoopers and Grant Thornton have now been appointed as the firm’s administrators. Mark Batten, of PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: “Castlemore Securities is a business with significant property assets and it is currently our intention to continue to trade parts of the business as we seek a buyer. “The administration is a result of the well-documented challenges facing the property market which has lead to the company suffering cash flow difficulties.” The plans were approved by Sheffield City Council last year but were opposed by Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS). HMCS had concerns that the development would mean altering the route prison vans would have to take on transit to the Crown Court.