York needs hi-tech and well paid jobs

One of the main criteria for any inward investment we encourage is that it must be sustainable. We are only interested in working with organisations that have long-term investment plans. We are supportive of the aims of the proposed Sustainable Communities Bill, "of protecting or renewing local economic activity including shops, services, facilities and jobs and locally based industry". This approach is taken when attracting investment.

But why do we need to encourage inward investment when York's economy is doing so well? We recently suffered the loss of Terry's, and, earlier, the collapse of the ABB carriageworks in York with the later withdrawal of Thrall Europa on the same site. There are other examples of major firm closures in the region, and it is estimated that 19,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost in North Yorkshire in the last eight years. Employers are competing against other areas of the world that offer lower paid workers. It is important we replenish the stock of jobs.

Over the last year, york-england.com has attracted 30 new companies to the region, creating and safeguarding nearly 500 jobs. It is our aim to attract new, specialist companies that generate highly paid, quality jobs. We work closely with Science City York, which concentrates on generating a technology-based economy in specialist areas. Fuelled by world-class research being carried out at the University of York, this has proved a great success.

Mr Randon should also be assured that york-england.com works closely with each local authority to make sure the right match is made to benefit each locality. Areas such as Scarborough and the coast need a great deal of help to attract new industries. By working in these areas, we promote investment, growth and jobs, thus reducing the need for local people to commute to jobs further afield.

Denise Dodd,

Acting chief executive,

york-england.com,

George Hudson Street,

York

Updated: 09:08 Friday, January 06, 2006