Growth strategy aims to create 72,000 new jobs

TENS of thousands of jobs could be created across the Bristol and Bath region under new plans unveiled by the metro mayor.

- HANNAH BAKER

The 10-year Growth Strategy outlines economic opportunities for the West Country, including attracting investment, harnessing AI and new technologies, improving transport and delivering 72,000 new jobs.

The mayor of the West of England, Helen Godwin, and local council chiefs were joined by business leaders and government ministers at the Bristol Digital Futures Institute to discuss the proposals, which will target 28% economic growth over the next decade.

The Growth Strategy, which includes South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and the Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) authority areas, highlights new work to tackle child poverty, deliver more affordable and accessible childcare, and generate 135 megawatts of clean energy.