A Thriving Local Economy with Good Jobs
Sheffield has the universities, the heritage and the people to build one of the strongest economies in the North. Too often the council has got in the way rather than backed that potential — slow decisions, bureaucratic processes, and district centres left to fend for themselves while attention drifts to the city centre.
We have started to change that.
Under Liberal Democrat Chair of the Economic Development, Skills and Culture Committee, we helped get Sheffield residents back into work and shaped a long-term Employment and Skills Strategy. We brought the “Ignite the Night” motion to fight for Sheffield’s venues and nightlife. We have pushed for transport that works in the evening, not just the commuter rush. The groundwork is there. Let’s finish the job!
Why This Matters for Our Principles
Getting the basics right — a council that works for you
Businesses need the council to be straightforward to deal with. A planning decision that drags on for months, a licensing process nobody can explain, an enquiry that bounces between departments — these are reasons businesses give up and investors go elsewhere. Getting the basics right means clear processes, published timelines, and someone accountable when things go wrong. A well-run council is itself an economic asset.
Pride in Sheffield
A strong local economy — thriving high streets, a lively city centre, a night-time scene people are proud of — is part of what makes Sheffield a city people want to live in, stay in and invest in. Sheffield’s heritage as the steel city and birthplace of football is an asset that should be celebrated, not left on a shelf.
Opportunity for all
A strong local economy does not benefit everyone equally unless it is deliberately designed to. Good jobs, apprenticeships, local procurement and skills pathways are the mechanisms that connect economic growth to the people who need it most — those without degrees, those who have been out of work, those in parts of the city that have seen investment pass them by. Sheffield has the universities, the employers and the industrial heritage to build an economy people across the city can share in. That only happens if the council actively backs it.
Key Changes:
• A council that gets out of the way — faster decisions, simpler processes, and a clear point of contact for businesses.
• Spend Sheffield's money in Sheffield — stronger local procurement targets and published data on how much council spend goes to local businesses.
• Grow Sheffield's tech, creative and manufacturing jobs — through formal partnerships with universities, colleges and the AMRC.
• Make the city centre somewhere people want to be — safer streets, cleaner spaces, and late-night transport that actually gets people home.
• Empty sites put to work — bringing unused land and buildings back into use to unlock jobs and investment.
• Sheffield's story, told with pride — using our heritage as the steel city and birthplace of football to bring in visitors and investment.
• Stronger local high streets — supporting business networks and local traders so district centres can thrive.