Supporting the development of Sheffield City Region's Global Innovation Corridor

Steer Economic Development has been commissioned by the Sheffield City Region (SCR) to support the development of a Vision Framework, and Action Plan for the SCR’s Global Innovation Corridor (GIC). Steer Economic Development will act as ‘Critical Friend’ in developing evidence, narrative, Vision, and Action Plan for a sustainable and impactful GIC.

The GIC’s ambition is to connect businesses, talent, and ideas to deliver growth and opportunity for SCR, building on the already strong economic assets (e.g. the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, Doncaster-Sheffield Airport, and two universities), and identifying new routeways for going forwards. Notwithstanding these strengths, connectivity – physical and virtual– also needs improving, so as to increase the flow of ideas/people/businesses within and across the GIC area. Achieving this increased connectivity could unlock an additional £21 billion in GVA in the GIC by 2040. Importantly, the GIC will deliver national priorities in the Government’s Industrial Strategy and provide a rationale for Investment to SCR from sources such as the Transforming Cities and Shared Prosperity Funds.

The scope of Steer Economic Development’s work includes developing:

• An evidence base for the GIC;
• A strategic vision of the GIC, built around clear logic-chain arguments;
• An action plan, with actions designed to deliver optimally the objectives of the strategic vision; and
• Strong and fulsome stakeholder engagement, building commitment to action and forward progress.