Bradford should focus on growth industries like Green energy, not fast food, to help emerge from Covid recession - professor claims
Dean of the School of Management Professor Zahir Irani
BRADFORD needs to gradually move away from reliance on industries such as take away and fast food and focus on other growth industries if it wants to bounce back after the Covid pandemic - according to a local professor. Professor Zahir Irani, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Bradford was speaking to Councillors about the District’s Economic Recovery Plan, a document he helped draw up, this week. In a presentation to the Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee, Prof Irani, chair of the Economic Recovery Board, said increased support for sectors likely to grow in the coming years, such as green energy, would help Bradford’s Covid recovery.
We don t want to go back to normal, because normal wasn t good enough - Bradford plans post-Covid recovery
A social distancing sign in City Park
BRADFORD needs to plan for an economic recovery that will leave the District in better shape than it was before the Covid pandemic Councillors have heard. Yesterday the Chair of the District’s Economic Recovery Board said: “We don’t want to go back to normal, because normal wasn’t good enough.” Professor Zahir Irani, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Bradford, was speaking during a meeting of Bradford Council’s Executive, where members were asked to approved The Bradford District Economic Recovery Plan.
AN ambitious plan has been developed to support the district’s recovery from the pandemic. The Bradford District Economic Recovery Plan sets out a blueprint to sustain jobs and boost productivity, whilst building a “resilient” economy. Bradford Council’s executive will discuss the document at its next meeting, on January 5, and it will be shared with key stakeholders and potential funders. The plan responds to local challenges including a rapid rise in unemployment, a gap in skills and poor connectivity. It also addresses national challenges including the economic fallout from full and partial lockdowns, social inequalities made worse by the pandemic, increased pressure on public finances and the UK’s exit from the EU.