Council hails economic and skills progress of One Coventry plan

Councillors are celebrating solid progress on the One Coventry approach to improve the city and the lives of its residents.

The approach focuses on growing the local economy and boosting skills; working to reduce inequalities between the richest and poorest communities; and tackling the causes and consequences of climate change.

Since launching the plan in 2022, the council has helped facilitate a 22 per cent increase in city centre footfall and ensured that 91 per cent of school leavers aged 16 or over have gone on to further education, apprenticeships or employment.

Meanwhile, the Job Shop employment centre has moved to a prominent city centre location, so far helping 818 customers secure work.

In tackling the causes and consequences of climate change, the council has worked with partners to increase the number and use of electric charging points, cut carbon emissions from its operations and reduce the number of pedestrians injured on city roads.

More households also now have access to full fibre broadband.

Cllr George Duggins, leader of the council, said: “Our One Coventry Plan focuses on enabling people to live their best lives in a vibrant and prosperous city.

“This latest report shows great progress in many areas, and I’m delighted with the way we’re working together as a city to find new solutions.

“The plan is helping us to give help to those in the most need while developing the city and preparing it for the future in areas from the environment to retail, leisure and wellbeing.

“There’s still a long way to go, but we’ll continue to work with others to build on these early successes.

“Thank you to everyone who’s been involved in the work so far, and I look forward to working with more partners and residents as we continue to reshape and build our city together.”