Economist - 'Abandon "failing" cities and towns across the north of England'

TruckerT

kabayiri wrote: »

If Nissan can manage to create one of Europe's most efficient car plants in Sunderland, it goes to prove there is hope for most places in the UK.

In East Manchester British Gas has one of it's contact centres. One of the systems accountants was telling me that it would be the last place they'd get rid of. The reason? Well, the cost base is so low, and given the relatively deprived area it operates in, staff retention figures are excellent.

If the South East really is the only place with a prosperous future, then how can Bentley in Crewe attract staff ? How can Rolls Royce operate in Derby with a myriad of supporting small factories in places like Burnley?

For me it's just a matter of will. Nissan or Toyota don't have a miracle touch. They just back their convictions.

There is a future for places outside London/SE.

Bentley and Rolls Royce operate in highly specialised markets, and would probably continue to attract staff if they moved their operations to the moon.

TruckerT

DominicJ_2

In East Manchester British Gas has one of it's contact centres. One of the systems accountants was telling me that it would be the last place they'd get rid of. The reason? Well, the cost base is so low, and given the relatively deprived area it operates in, staff retention figures are excellent.

But once unemployment isnt endemic in the local area, retention figures plummet.
Which negates the reason to invest in the area.

CLAPTON

kabayiri wrote: »

If Nissan can manage to create one of Europe's most efficient car plants in Sunderland, it goes to prove there is hope for most places in the UK.

In East Manchester British Gas has one of it's contact centres. One of the systems accountants was telling me that it would be the last place they'd get rid of. The reason? Well, the cost base is so low, and given the relatively deprived area it operates in, staff retention figures are excellent.

If the South East really is the only place with a prosperous future, then how can Bentley in Crewe attract staff ? How can Rolls Royce operate in Derby with a myriad of supporting small factories in places like Burnley?

For me it's just a matter of will. Nissan or Toyota don't have a miracle touch. They just back their convictions.

There is a future for places outside London/SE.

I don't really think there is a major problem of attracting the right calibre of staff to most locations outside the SE per se.

The problem is to attract the industries and hence the jobs:

If there are only a few major employers in an area, good people will be reluctant to move there as they may consider they will lack future job advancement.

Chicken and egg situation.