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Inclusive Economy - Further Information

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Why do we need an Inclusive Economy Strategy?

West Cheshire has a relatively prosperous economy worth over £10.5 billion each year, but not everyone is benefitting from this. We have large gaps between neighbourhoods in levels of deprivation, poverty and in life expectancy. This strategy is an opportunity for the Council, residents, businesses and other local institutions to imagine an economy where we can all thrive, whilst taking care of our environment, maximising opportunities for all our residents and making the borough better able to bounce back from economic shocks.*

West Cheshire’s economy performs well in relation to the UK average. We have a lower unemployment rate (3.3% vs UK 4.6%) and our start-ups are more likely to survive longer than 5 years (44% vs UK 42%). We have strengths in several sectors: manufacturing, energy, green technology, finance and services (retail, hospitality, health and education).*

However, we know that not everyone is benefitting from our economy. There are four key issues, inspired by the Council Plan, which make this strategy relevant and which we hope to affect.

Poverty and Inequality

Large differences exist in educational achievement and skills, access to quality employment opportunities, food security, and household incomes, depending on where in our borough you live.

Many of our residents are experiencing poverty and deprivation. 16 of our neighbourhoods are in the 10% most deprived in England. Child poverty is around 50% higher in some areas than in others, and in those areas most severely affected, it is growing. By one measure, we are in the bottom 10% nationally for youth social mobility and in the bottom 25% for social mobility generally. If we do not take action, this inequality gap is set to rise.*

Health and Wellbeing

Differences in deprivation and wealth are being reflected in our residents’ health and wellbeing. There is a 10.4-year gap between the highest and lowest neighbourhood average life expectancy for men and a 9.1-year gap for women.* Research shows that inequalities across England are linked to worsening health, and without work to address economic inequalities, health inequalities are likely to stay.**

Climate and Sustainability

We know heavy industry is having a negative impact on our environment. We are the 5th highest greenhouse gas emitting local authority area in the UK, with a large amount of energy-intensive industry. Our borough emits 4 million tonnes of CO2 each year. We want to be carbon neutral by 2045.*

Supporting culture, producing an animated borough

Strong social networks, as well as arts, culture and leisure activities, can improve the quality of life and mental and physical wellbeing of residents. We want our towns and communities to flourish through a strong cultural offer and a local identity enjoyed by everyone. We want our borough to be filled with lively, diverse places which residents are proud to call home.

What is this engagement about?

This is about developing a strategy and action plan, outlining key areas of work that we think will help to make our economy fairer, greener and stronger. We are engaging on the six areas for action we have outlined so far:

We want to hear your thoughts on how important each of them is to creating a thriving, inclusive economy. We also want to hear your ideas on what should be done, either by the Council, residents, or other local organisations and businesses to make our economy fairer, greener, and stronger.

How is this Inclusive Economy Strategy being developed?

The strategy and action plan are being developed collaboratively, seeking to make a difference through our action areas.

We are already working with key partners and stakeholders to identify opportunities to improve existing services and new actions to take forward.

Contributions from this engagement will inform our vision for building a thriving local economy. We will produce an action plan which will highlight the key issues for the Council and partners to focus on.

This is being developed alongside a separate plan focused on tackling the root causes of poverty, raising the voices of residents experiencing poverty, and lessening its impact. Learn more about the Fairer Futures plan here.

This is a long-term vision for the borough. The conversation around an inclusive economy will not end with the closing of this engagement, there will be more opportunities to get involved in the future.


*Data from Steer Economic Development, Inclusive Economy Evidence Base (2021).

**Michael Marmot et al., Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On (2020), [https://www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/the-marmot-review-10-years-on].

Why do we need an Inclusive Economy Strategy?

West Cheshire has a relatively prosperous economy worth over £10.5 billion each year, but not everyone is benefitting from this. We have large gaps between neighbourhoods in levels of deprivation, poverty and in life expectancy. This strategy is an opportunity for the Council, residents, businesses and other local institutions to imagine an economy where we can all thrive, whilst taking care of our environment, maximising opportunities for all our residents and making the borough better able to bounce back from economic shocks.*

West Cheshire’s economy performs well in relation to the UK average. We have a lower unemployment rate (3.3% vs UK 4.6%) and our start-ups are more likely to survive longer than 5 years (44% vs UK 42%). We have strengths in several sectors: manufacturing, energy, green technology, finance and services (retail, hospitality, health and education).*

However, we know that not everyone is benefitting from our economy. There are four key issues, inspired by the Council Plan, which make this strategy relevant and which we hope to affect.

Poverty and Inequality

Large differences exist in educational achievement and skills, access to quality employment opportunities, food security, and household incomes, depending on where in our borough you live.

Many of our residents are experiencing poverty and deprivation. 16 of our neighbourhoods are in the 10% most deprived in England. Child poverty is around 50% higher in some areas than in others, and in those areas most severely affected, it is growing. By one measure, we are in the bottom 10% nationally for youth social mobility and in the bottom 25% for social mobility generally. If we do not take action, this inequality gap is set to rise.*

Health and Wellbeing

Differences in deprivation and wealth are being reflected in our residents’ health and wellbeing. There is a 10.4-year gap between the highest and lowest neighbourhood average life expectancy for men and a 9.1-year gap for women.* Research shows that inequalities across England are linked to worsening health, and without work to address economic inequalities, health inequalities are likely to stay.**

Climate and Sustainability

We know heavy industry is having a negative impact on our environment. We are the 5th highest greenhouse gas emitting local authority area in the UK, with a large amount of energy-intensive industry. Our borough emits 4 million tonnes of CO2 each year. We want to be carbon neutral by 2045.*

Supporting culture, producing an animated borough

Strong social networks, as well as arts, culture and leisure activities, can improve the quality of life and mental and physical wellbeing of residents. We want our towns and communities to flourish through a strong cultural offer and a local identity enjoyed by everyone. We want our borough to be filled with lively, diverse places which residents are proud to call home.

What is this engagement about?

This is about developing a strategy and action plan, outlining key areas of work that we think will help to make our economy fairer, greener and stronger. We are engaging on the six areas for action we have outlined so far:

We want to hear your thoughts on how important each of them is to creating a thriving, inclusive economy. We also want to hear your ideas on what should be done, either by the Council, residents, or other local organisations and businesses to make our economy fairer, greener, and stronger.

How is this Inclusive Economy Strategy being developed?

The strategy and action plan are being developed collaboratively, seeking to make a difference through our action areas.

We are already working with key partners and stakeholders to identify opportunities to improve existing services and new actions to take forward.

Contributions from this engagement will inform our vision for building a thriving local economy. We will produce an action plan which will highlight the key issues for the Council and partners to focus on.

This is being developed alongside a separate plan focused on tackling the root causes of poverty, raising the voices of residents experiencing poverty, and lessening its impact. Learn more about the Fairer Futures plan here.

This is a long-term vision for the borough. The conversation around an inclusive economy will not end with the closing of this engagement, there will be more opportunities to get involved in the future.


*Data from Steer Economic Development, Inclusive Economy Evidence Base (2021).

**Michael Marmot et al., Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On (2020), [https://www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/the-marmot-review-10-years-on].