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INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ST.HELENS

One-time cradle of the industrial revolution, today's St.Helens is a passionate, innovative, & enterprising place that in recent years has undergone a spectacular & successful post-industrial renaissance as the "Heart of the North West" - a regionally significant location of choice for investors, residents, & visitors alike. 

This radical ongoing transformation of our image, infrastructure, culture, & business base, is centred on clear vision, a focus on delivery, & working closely with the private sector & other partners in order to maximise our prime regional connectivity & catchment midway between Liverpool & Manchester.  

Our unique approach to private sector engagement & successful track record led St.Helens to be selected by Government not only as one of only four areas selected to pilot the cutting–edge “City Growth Strategy” (CGS) approach to regeneration developed at Harvard Business School, but also as the only district in the North West to be awarded Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) status & funding in Round 1. 

The result has been a major uplift in St.Helens’ appeal as a profitable business base, desirable residential location, & credible visitor destination, as highlighted by the following choice facts: 

• We are one of the top 11 locations in the UK in terms of business start up growth rates 1 
• During Year 1 of our LEGI programme, via St.Helens Chamber (officially the best Chamber in Britain 2), we created 320 new businesses & 829 new jobs, while assisting 804 economically inactive people into employment.
• We are the most car-friendly place in North West England 3
• Our town centre Cultural Quarter has won 18 regional & national urban design awards
• St.Helens was selected as one of only 7 UK Channel 4 “Big Art Project sites” & will be home to a landmark new gateway public artwork by an internationally renowned artist. 

Combine these with the ongoing delivery of LEGI via some of the best business support in the country, award-winning attractions, premier sport, quality events, glorious countryside, an iconic new Central Station, the prospect of a fantastic stadium worthy of the current Rugby League World Champions, three new Urban Villages under construction, & a host of other major commercial & “place–shaping” developments in the pipeline, & it all adds up to winning formula. 

The Economic Development Team is a sub-division of St.Helens Council’s Urban Regeneration & Housing Department, & acknowledged as one of the highest performing Services of what is a top-rated, 4-Star Local Authority.   

Our Mission is:  “To drive forward the comprehensive transformation of the Borough as a vibrant, modern, economically prosperous, regional location of choice”.   

Click on the links below to find out more about the role of the Economic Development Team in supporting & sustaining the successful development & growth of “St.Helens plc”… 

Values

Core Services & Functions

• Business Location & Aftercare Service
• Destination Marketing
• Economic Intelligence
• Enterprise and City Growth Strategy-  The City Growth Strategy -  LEGI
• Regeneration Funding
• Special Initiatives-  The Channel 4 Big Art Project in St.Helens-  Rural Economy Action Plan
• Tourism Development
• Town Centre Management