Business park misses 5,000 new jobs target

A major business park that was expected to create 5,000 jobs in a decade has fallen well short of that target, a council report says.

Worcester Six launched in 2016 as a flagship £120m development but factors including Brexit, the pandemic and high interest rates all contributed to its below-par performance, Worcestershire County Council said.

Over its 10 years, only 800-1,000 jobs were created and two-fifths of the site is still unoccupied.

"The way companies work is different now - there's not quite the density there used to be in terms of 'job numbers'," the authority's assistant director for economy, Gary Woodman, said.

"Brexit had had a massive impact in terms of businesses working out how they'll continue to trade, particularly those who export.

"But also the pandemic has had a massive impact, in terms of the way we work."

The council's report on the site suggested it was a mistake to talk up the figure of 5,000 jobs, calling it an "optimistic" claim that heightened expectations.

"In hindsight, a more conservative job-creation phased model, linked to the realities of the local market, would have been advantageous," the report's authors added.

"It should also be noted that Worcester Six has operated through Brexit uncertainty, Covid-19 and rising interest rates, but has still seen at least one major investment each year of its operation."

At the moment there are 12 companies on-site, with space for nine more at the park, which is just off junction six of the M5.

The business park strategy was largely driven by the council's former Conservative leadership, in partnership with the private sector.

The report was debated during a council meeting, where councillors insisted the site had been a success.

Conservative councillor Dan Birch said: "When you look at how empty some other business parks are, it's great we've been able to fill so many units.

"We know the general business environment is down - this has been a massive success."

Tory councillor Marcus Hart added: "I was in the cabinet in 2011 when the [strategy for Worcester Six] was effectively kicked off.

"The report in front of us is a very honest, very fair one - in my view it's been a real success story."

Worcester Bosch was originally earmarked as the anchor tenant for the park, but the energy giant then decided against the move, due to economic uncertainty.

In recent years the site has appeared to gather momentum, with several engineering, healthcare and technology firms all signing up - including the global manufacturing company MiTek.

Woodman added: "You've got to bear in mind this site has gone across Brexit, Covid, and the economic challenges we are seeing now.

"We're doing our best in terms of jobs density, but businesses have changed."

Over the past decade the site has attracted £300m in private sector investment.

Stoford, the company which develops the site, has just submitted a planning application to build five smaller units on the park, to try and attract businesses which are not as large as the ones currently based there.

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