Cable: Burnley industrial sector booming
Business Secretary Vince Cable singled out Burnley's high proportion of manufacturing occupiers for praise during his keynote speech at the Local Government Association conference this week.
Addressing politicians and government workers at the annual conference in Manchester Central, Cable said: "Burnley in the north of Lancashire is currently now booming economically on the back of manufacturing and proximity to the aerospace industry; a few miles down the road, some of the other Pennine towns, are languishing."
His comment follows Burnley being named 10th in the country for private sector growth, and amongst the best in the North West for high-growth firms, as defined by data analysts Experian.
Cllr Julie Cooper, leader of Burnley Council, said: "A new 40-acre Aerospace Supply Village, 73% of graduates getting a first class or 2:1 degree, one of the region's first University Technical Colleges: as a council we do not make things, but we make sure those who do, have an environment in which to excel, and they are doing just that."
Independent think-tank, the Centre for Cities, placed Burnley number one in the UK for proportion employed in the manufacturing sector and promotion of the area's manufacturing strength has encouraged companies to relocate, including international aerospace giant, Kaman Tooling and manufacturing innovators, Velocity Composites.
Steve Rumbelow, chief executive of Burnley Council, said: "The manufacturing 'boom' as described by the Business Minister, is an accolade for Burnley, but an invitation to everyone else: come and join our success, be part of the boom, be amongst the world's best – Burnley is open for business, it is excelling on the world stage, and so could you."
Fort Vale, Rolls-Royce, SAFFRAN Aircelle, General Electrics, and AMS Neve are just some of the world-leading companies in and around the town which has double the regional and national levels employed in manufacturing.
The Local Government Association's annual conference is the biggest event in the local government calendar and attracts over 1,200 delegates.
