LEN CRUDDAS, chief executive of North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, sees York as a thriving city over the next 20 years.

IN the first instance, we need to make sure that we have the right sort of skills and framework in place to develop.

We want a city where entrepreneurs are appreciated and valued. It is about getting young people coming through who want to develop into these areas.

That will need a reality check. Not every young person is going to get onto Popstars, or sell a number one record.

We need to shift the emphasis so young people coming through wanting to be engineers to be important players in the York economy.

The Science City area is hugely important. It is a fairly key area of York. But it's not the most important thing. I still believe that tourism is vital.

It has a subtle and vitally important influence across everything we do in York. What makes York such an attractive place to visit, also makes it an attractive place to live and work.

The vision is very exciting. It was something that was vitally important to do. It has to work. The way the economy is going at the moment it is difficult to make solid predictions. But that makes it even more important to have a vision.

In business terms, the world never stands still. These days, it is a global economy. There are emerging industries in China and India and these will be hugely significant in 20 years' time.

We have to change, we have to develop to keep up. We need to show York as a place which is great to do business, where firms can develop and grow.

All the things that we want come from having a thriving city. You can have a safe city, a clean city, a city which has well educated residents.

But you must have the economy to pay for it. These days, nobody believes that the Government is going to pick up the tab.

So economy is another very important part of the vision. Without it, all the other areas of society could not deliver.

What's the aim?

To support the progress and success of York's existing businesses and to encourage new enterprises to maintain a flourishing economy with high employment.

What issues do we face?

Lack of investment in the city's heritage and tourist industry

Lack of quality employment sites and accommodation

A need for a modern, uncongested transport system

The reduction of York's manufacturing base

The need to keep the city at the forefront as a science base

What will we do?

Developing York as a centre for modern science businesses will mean increasing the levels of new and growing businesses through Science City.

We will invest in the heritage, cultural and conference infrastructure, and skills development through the First Stop York tourism partnership.

York University's role as a key economic generator for the city will be supported with help from Science City York and the Higher York Partnership.

Working with Yorkshire Forward and any Regional Assembly, we will look to maximise economic benefits at a local and regional level.

Strategic planning and investment through the local transport plan, along with direct intervention with key rail and air operators will help contribute to the development of a modern, sustainable and uncongested transport structure that will meet the needs of the York economy.

Working with the Learning&Skills Council, Lifelong Learning Partnership and Future Prospects will help to enhance skill levels within the York workforce.

Updated: 12:24 Thursday, July 22, 2004