Strategy to push north-west innovation

The Northwest Regional Development Agency's (NWDA's) first Northwest Enterprise Strategy plans to support a 20 per cent increase in start-ups in the area, which would mean 185,000 new firms being launched by 2026.

[…] It is about getting individuals to respond to change, to take risks, be innovative and creative and develop new ways of doing things

Vanda Murray

Deputy Chair Elect

Working with three central themes - enterprising people, enterprising business and enterprising places - the NWDA will operate alongside the Northwest Enterprise Forum and other regional partners to help businesses grow.

The strategy will improve the access individuals and firms have to business support, as well as tailoring it to their needs and simplifying the system surrounding it.

Vanda Murray, NWDA Board Member, and Deputy Chair Elect, commented: "We are not just talking solely about people starting a business, it is about getting individuals to respond to change, to take risks, be innovative and creative and develop new ways of doing things.

She also revealed that the agency has allocated £180 million to enterprise support, £172 million to key business sectors and £89 million for supporting innovation.

Last week, the NWDA announced that the £38 million Macclesfield Learning Zone, which was part funded by the agency and includes the European Centre for Aerospace Training, has been opened.