Fifty500

Connecting over a million people and half a million jobs, the A50/A500 is relied on to move products and connect supply chains. Above and beyond its connectivity, the corridor is now recognised as a hub for manufacturing and innovation, with major businesses along the corridor specialising in clean energy, hydrogen and technology.

Working with Midlands Connect, the Midlands Engine and neighbouring local authorities through a Strategic Alliance, Staffordshire County Council has developed a suite of strategic investment proposals.

These are intended to back what makes Britain great through advancing clean technology, green growth, transport, logistics, connectivity and investment in local skills in order to accelerate ambitious sustainable economic growth opportunities along the corridor. In addition to supporting local communities to give them access to more and better paid jobs.

Key facts

• The UK’s primary location for manufacturing and innovation
• £1.5 billion of Investment Opportunities
• Centred on the key A50 and A500 routes linking the West and East Midlands
• Investment programme centred around decarbonisation of the economy

Why invest in Staffordshire?

Staffordshire is a major UK growth area. They played a unique role as one of the creative workshops of the Industrial Revolution. That same entrepreneurial spirit that once created world-beaters like Spode, Wedgwood and Bass is alive and well today. Some of Britain’s greatest success stories, like JCB and bet365, have all grown from garage start-ups into billion-pound success stories.

Today, Staffordshire is a fast-growing centre of modern manufacturing, making a major contribution to manufacturing employment growth nationally. Businesses in Staffordshire produce the advanced technical components and materials for a range of consumer and business products.

The same location benefits that attracted Michelin in 1926 are once again bringing international businesses to Staffordshire. Jaguar Land Rover, Amazon and Molson-Coors are just some of the names investing millions of pounds and creating thousands of jobs in Staffordshire.

Insight for investors

• Target investor(s): Potential Funders, Foreign Direct Investors, Existing companies based in corridor
• Type of investment sought: Government/Public sector funding to initially develop business cases for investment proposals
• Value: £1.5 billion of Investment Opportunities
• Jobs: 17,000 estimated jobs by 2061
• Planning status: Planning applications will emerge as projects are progressed