The Sheffield and region economy

[AdamBlade]

Originally Posted by larven

Cable backs council's business ambition



http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yorkshire/51277-/

Was good to meet him there too!!!

[jozblade]

What does the 'most business friendly city in the U.K' actually mean though? Why is it going to be friendly?

[paulmat]

Maybe adamblade can shed some light!?

[larven]

It means introducing policies like the one I outlined in my previous post.

If Sheffield can remove or at least reduce some of the additional costs to business, and thus create an environment that incentivises business activity over and above other cities, then it can lay claim to being 'business friendly', perhaps even the "most business friendly city" in the UK.

We should focus on the city centre and work outwards. If incentives are available to develop in the centre as opposed to other parts of the city then you direct development towards the centre. This is where it should be concentrated if we are to create economic growth, promote sustainable development and improve Sheffields offer in comparision to other cities in terms of being an attractive place to live, work, invest and do business in.

[jozblade]

Also I was thinking, who is in charge of attracting business to the city (if anybody)? I'm due to graduate this summer and I'm currently looking for a job within the financial sector, however there appears to be very little on offer in Sheffield at the moment, which is a shame as I'd prefer to come back here.

So, why aren't these kind of business coming here/come here in the past? There are a lot concentrated in Leeds and Manchester, who also have good universities and thus the right kind of employees, so why not Sheffield?

[FirthParker]

Originally Posted by larven

It means introducing policies like the one I outlined in my previous post.

If Sheffield can remove or at least reduce some of the additional costs to business, and thus create an environment that incentivises business activity over and above other cities, then it can lay claim to being 'business friendly', perhaps even the "most business friendly city" in the UK.

We should focus on the city centre and work outwards. If incentives are available to develop in the centre as opposed to other parts of the city then you direct development towards the centre. This is where it should be concentrated if we are to create economic growth, promote sustainable development and improve Sheffields offer in comparision to other cities in terms of being an attractive place to live, work, invest and do business in.

Who actually controls the capital which is given to Sheffield as a result of it being an enterprise zone?

Also what sort of incentives do you believe are needed to gain business in Sheffield?

To me I don't see why we could not just offer free office space for a number of years, say 5, to attract some new jobs. If we are to focus on the city centre as our enterprise zone, office work is the sort of employment we want to be encouraging.

It could lead to a snow ball effect were they attracted other businesses and jobs. Hopefully they would also stay once their free tenancy was up, now being settled in Sheffield

Originally Posted by jozblade

Also I was thinking, who is in charge of attracting business to the city (if anybody)? I'm due to graduate this summer and I'm currently looking for a job within the financial sector, however there appears to be very little on offer in Sheffield at the moment, which is a shame as I'd prefer to come back here.

So, why aren't these kind of business coming here/come here in the past? There are a lot concentrated in Leeds and Manchester, who also have good universities and thus the right kind of employees, so why not Sheffield?

Always thought that it was CreativeSheffields responsibility to attract new business to Sheffield

In my opinion Sheffield lacked behind Leeds and Manchester in the past because of a difference in transportation links, available facilities and also because of the 'Full Monty' sort of image of Sheffield.

I applied to Grant Thornton and PwC which are based in Sheffield. Have you tried either of them yet?

[jozblade]

Originally Posted by FirthParker

I applied to Grant Thornton and PwC which are based in Sheffield. Have you tried either of them yet?

I'm not bothered about going into auditing. I wouldn't mind advisory, but PWC don't have advisory services in Sheffield. Not sure about Grant Thornton though, I'll check them out.

It's more the banking sector that probably meets my skills. I've done a lot of modules at uni on derivatives, corporate finance etc. as opposed to financial reporting and analysis.

[jozblade]

Originally Posted by FirthParker

To me I don't see why we could not just offer free office space for a number of years, say 5, to attract some new jobs. If we are to focus on the city centre as our enterprise zone, office work is the sort of employment we want to be encouraging.

The free office space is a good idea. Although I'm not sure the owners of the office space would be very happy (unless the council subsidise it - which won't happen in the current climate). Also I'd assume that after a five-ten year time period, most offices would probably be looking at some kind of renovation/improvements, so this would have to be another outlay by the owners of the offices, without receiving much back in return.

[AdamBlade]

As detailed by Larven:

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/...pers_1_3309348

[cadburyflake]

Originally Posted by larven

Yes it is, not sure of the location yet though.

Strongly rumoured to be at DSA. Plenty of land, good links once the link road is open (could have something to do with it?) and the fact that airport sites are generally seen as quite glamourous place to work. Bearing in mind that it's a Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone, so it could be anywhere in South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire, not just Sheffield City. As I say though, it's a rumour so take what I say with a pinch of salt.

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Originally Posted by cadburyflake

Strongly rumoured to be at DSA. Plenty of land, good links once the link road is open (could have something to do with it?) and the fact that airport sites are generally seen as quite glamourous place to work. Bearing in mind that it's a Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone, so it could be anywhere in South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire, not just Sheffield City. As I say though, it's a rumour so take what I say with a pinch of salt.

Wouldn't surprise me, think as a country we need to concentrate on revitalising our city centres rather than building endless business parks out of town however.

[larven]

Good news.

This should give a boost to development in the city centre.


Sheffield to entice developers with bonus

Last updated: Tue 26th April, 2011 | Time: 11:36am

A completion bonus is to be offered by Sheffield City Council to encourage property development in the city, Insider has learnt. Exemptions to infrastructure contributions will be made available as the council looks to stimulate development activity in the city centre. For certain projects contributions will be scrapped entirely.

Currently, developer contributions can cover a wide range of improvements including the provision of affordable housing, school places, open space and highway works.

The two-level completion bonus would ditch contributions for any scheme in the city centre completed within 18 months of the granting of planning permission and apply a 50 per cent relaxation for city centre schemes completed within two years of planning permission being granted.

The incentives will focus on the city centre which the report described as the chief driver of the city economy.

There will also be a focus on small to medium-sized schemes where the council said relatively small changes in development costs can make all the difference to a project's viability.

Although a definition of "small and medium-sized" is pending, it is expected that 1,000 sq metres (11,000 sq ft) will be used as a maximum size for the purpose of the incentive scheme.

In a report filed ahead of a cabinet meeting this week, the council said it recognised the current economic conditions have reduced levels of new development in Sheffield.

The document said the council was aware developers are facing difficulties in securing funding and finding occupiers for completed schemes.

Attracting occupiers and funding was a longer term challenge, according to the council, but by offering the completion bonus it hoped to attract schemes to Sheffield.

The report concludes with a recommendation that a City Centre Development Incentive Scheme is instigated.

This recommendation was made on the basis that relaxing the need to provide some developer contributions will ease the financial burden and "make some previously unviable schemes deliverable".

The move is part of the council's drive for Sheffield to be perceived as being "open for business" and will run for an initial one year period. After this period its impact will be reviewed and an assessment made about the ongoing need for incentives.

http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/...lopment-market

[AdamBlade]

Originally Posted by cadburyflake

Strongly rumoured to be at DSA. Plenty of land, good links once the link road is open (could have something to do with it?) and the fact that airport sites are generally seen as quite glamourous place to work. Bearing in mind that it's a Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone, so it could be anywhere in South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire, not just Sheffield City. As I say though, it's a rumour so take what I say with a pinch of salt.

Not likely.

More likely to be Sheffield Business Park / Waverley.

[Mr Brightside]

17,000 jobs target in zone bid

Published on Thursday 28 April 2011 10:01

SHEFFIELD this week submitted a strategy for attracting millions of pounds of investment to the Lower Don Valley.

The council estimates that up to 17,000 jobs could be created if an area stretching between Attercliffe and Rotherham is declared an enterprise zone with an emphasis on advanced manufacturing.

Already the Government has announced that the Sheffield City Region will be given the stimulus – but it will be for a Local Enterprise Partnership, in which the private sector is in the majority, to decide the exact location.

Local authorities in Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster, North East Derbyshire, Bassetlaw and Bolsover are considering if they have proposals to submit to the LEP.

Firms will be encouraged to invest in the zones by being able to claim tax relief on new machinery and other plant, to pay lower business rates and to face lighter planning regulations. LEPs will be able to spend money raised from future business rates on infrastructure improvements such as roads.

Sheffield wants to build on a growing reputation for the development of specialist manufacturing – along with high tech industries linked to sports and health – in the Lower Don Valley.

In particular, Boeing and Rolls-Royce are based at Waverley, just over the border in Rotherham, and there is potential at the Airport Business Park and around the Outukumpu steel works.

Pockets of land are being earmarked for similar developments that are based on manufacturing quality and innovation, with Sheffield working with Rotherham Council to take advantage of the Government initiative.

It can argue that sites would be readily available, within easy reach of the M1 and can call upon a skilled workforce.

At the same time, the other authorities will underline the strengths of any of their respective submissions. They are expected to include building on the growth of Robin Hood Airport at Finningley and possibly developments for the waterside at Chesterfield and the former Markham Main Colliery.

The council’s director of development services, Les Sturch, said: “It’s a collaborative process, and Sheffield and Rotherham are working on a compelling proposition that could be attractive to the LEP and the city region.

“The Lower Don Valley is well positioned to provide a focus for a cluster of businesses in the advanced manufacturing sector. There are a series of sites that would benefit from being part of an enterprise zone, creating a modern manufacturing priority area.”

The LEP brings together the public and private sectors and it will decide which submission offers the best potential for boosting the local economy and generating jobs.

All the local authorities within its boundaries are represented on the board, but the private sector has a majority. The organisation is chaired by the chairman of Finance Yorkshire and former Master Cutler, James Newman.

........

[Mr Brightside]

Huge rise in take-up for offices


Published on Wednesday 27 April 2011 09:40

The number of businesses taking office space in Sheffield soared during the first quarter of 2011, according to a report by officebroker.com.

The report says take up rose by 600 per cent in January compared to the same time last year and was followed by a 300 per cent rise in February.

Take up in March then fell to the same level as last year.

Meanwhile, the number of businesses taking serviced office space in the city increased by 225 per cent during the first three months of the year.

The cost of office space also rose, with the average price for office space reaching £159 per workstation, compared with £140 during the first three months of 2010.

However, the number of workstations needing new arrivals decreased from 7.2 in the first three months of 2010 to four workstations.

Officebroker.com managing director, Jim Venables, said: “It’s certainly promising for the market in the city that 2011 has got off to such a strong start. It shows businesses are finally beginning to test the climate and are willing to commit to office accommodation once again.’’

This is great news, surly it can't be long before we see construction of new office space.

Full report is here.

http://www.officebroker.com/Serviced...-Q1-2011.obart

[Steel City Suburb]

Surely now is the time for 3 St Pauls ?

[Mr Brightside]

Yeah or maybe even the next stages of the digital campus or the Square.

[jozblade]

Is there any news of the retail units in SPP 2 being taken up yet? They have been empty for ages.

[Mr Brightside]

Sheffield named as one of the top three regional office locations

Published on Friday 13 May 2011 09:25

SHEFFIELD has been named one of the three most attractive regional locations in the UK for companies looking for office staff.

Property consultants CB Richard Ellis say only Glasgow and Leeds beat the city when ranked according to labour availability, educational institutions, labour costs and general demographics, and, with office occupancy costs 40 per cent lower than London and 20 per cent lower than Leeds, the city appears even more attractive.

Jonathan Shires, director of office agency at CBRE, said: “As England’s fourth largest city and with a population of over 500,000 people, it’s no surprise that Sheffield is considered to be the fastest growing city outside London for office and residential space.

“The nationwide office market has roughed some challenging times of late but as we move ahead with optimism for returning enquiries and activity in the sector, it is cities such as Sheffield who are well positioned to succeed in attracting occupiers as all the necessary components of strong demographics and excellent office space and development opportunities are all in place.”

CBRE is currently marketing Carillion’s Sheffield development, The Square, and is confident the advantages highlighted by its study will help it to attract potential occupiers.

...........

[jozblade]

Let's hope more large firms come to the city then!