‘Rotherham Story’ - Launched to businesses
Over the past few months leading businesses and organisations in Rotherham have been involved in developing an exciting place marketing strategy for the borough.
The project, carried out by place specialists Thinkingplace and commissioned by Rotherham Together Partnership, is part of our drive to highlight the many positive things in Rotherham; from our industrial heritage and current expertise in advanced manufacturing and engineering, to the beautiful rural areas and attractions such as Wentworth Woodhouse.
The work culminated in a business event on the 15th February at New York Stadium to showcase ‘The Rotherham Story’ to over 100 businesses. The story book focuses on key transformational themes and ideas to support Rotherham to attract inward investment and drive business growth.
The first of these themes is ‘Engineering Excellence’. Not only does this highlight the work taking place in the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), currently home to Rolls-Royce and Boeing (and soon to be the home of McLaren), but also reflects the importance of striving for excellence in everything we do.
The second is ‘Living Green’, highlighting that 70% of the borough is rural with over 56 parks, including Rother Valley, Roche Abbey, Thrybergh and Ulley Country Parks, as well as many other attractive and accessible countryside sites.
The final theme is ‘Pushing Boundaries’, which is about Rotherham raising the bar in everything it does, from improving educational performance to regenerating the town centre.
Achieving this ambition will need a ‘Team Rotherham’ approach with everyone on board. It was acknowledged that the private sector has a huge role to play in developing the town and surrounding area, and shouting about what it has to offer around the world.
To this end, there was a call at the event for Rotherham businesses and individuals to become ‘Pioneers’ for Rotherham, to promote and develop the borough by highlighting opportunities, sharing best practice and ‘selling’ the area by sharing the Rotherham story.
The event was hosted by Julie A Kenny CBE DL, Chair of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, who said “It is our ambition that Rotherham will be a destination of choice in the future for those that do not have the pleasure to live here. We have numerous places to visit, enjoy and spend quality family time together. We need to get that message out there.”