Yorkshire & Humber
Capital: Leeds / Sheffield
Website: http://www.yorkshire-forward.com/
Region Homepage: http://www.goyh.gov.uk/
PRIME: http://www.primeinitative.org.uk/
Description
Yorkshire and Humber is a northern English region with a population of around 5 million People, and over 250,000 businesses. We are as big as Denmark, Norway or Scotland and have a vibrant and growing £72 billion economy.
Our major towns and cities each have their own industrial heritage and identity which pose real opportunities and challenges. The city of Leeds is the largest economic driver, with one of the UK’s largest concentrations of financial and business services. Bradford is transforming its city centre, York has a combination of heritage and Science City status, Sheffield has refocused its steel industry, and Hull is building distinctive new buildings, for example The Deep – a futuristic aquarium and education resource.
Around 70 languages are spoken in the region, showing that diversity is both a reality and an opportunity.
The region’s changing demographic profile has important implications for the economy. In two years time we will have more pensioners than children. This means that businesses will have to take more account of them, in terms of their workforce, supply chains and consumer base. The potential of older people – as consumers, workers and entrepreneurs, is important to the region.
We face many challenges. A recent report by the Yorkshire and Humber Forum on Ageing shows that by 2021 over 50% of the population in the Yorkshire and Humber region will be over 45. Our older working population (45-64) is expected to increase by 23.1% by 2011, a more rapid growth than the United Kingdom average. As our labour force decreases due to retirement our growing demand for higher level skills will not be met.
We are already working towards meeting these challenges. Yorkshire Forward, our Regional Development Agency, has invested in PRIME – a project which works with Age Concern, JobCentre Plus, Information Advice and Guidance services (IAGs), education and other organisations who engage older people or who have a focus on work and training. PRIME is the only national organisation that helps people aged 50 and over to set up in business. Local events to stimulate interest in self-employment, business and social enterprise and encourage contact with business support are run across the region.
Participation in the SEN@ER Network will allow us to work closely with and learn from the experiences of other regions. Ultimately we aim contribute knowledge and good practice as well as to benefit from the network’s collective growth and learning in relation to the silver economy.
Key Statistics
Area : 15,512 km²
Total population : 5,063,900 inhabitants
Population age group |
No. of inhabitants |
% |
55 - 59 |
334,200 |
6.60 |
60 - 64 |
363,100 |
5.18 |
65 - 69 |
234,100 |
4.62 |
70 - 74 |
199,800 |
3.95 |
75 - 79 |
165,300 |
3.26 |
80 - 84 |
124,400 |
2.46 |
85 + |
98,200 |
1.94 |
Total 55 + |
1,418,100 |
28.01 |
Population density : 326,4 inhabitants per km²
Working population : 3,051,300 people
GDP per inhabitant: 23,733€
Further statistics on the demographic change in United Kingdom
Contact Information
Yorkshire Forward
Victoria House, 2 Victoria Place, Holbeck, Leeds, LS11 5AE
Phone – +44 113 3949600
Fax – +44 113 2431088
