Lancaster

CITIZEN'S CONCERNS

Local Economy, Including Social Enterprises
Education and Learning
Work

CITIZEN’S ASPIRATIONS

To see investment in the local economy
For young people to get move involved in society
To create a stronger sense of pride in Lancaster

Local Economy, including Social Enterprises

Lancaster as a district has a Business and Enterprise score in the lowest 10% nationally - meaning the area has low levels of new business formation and new business survival.
For every 100 new businesses that form in Lancaster, 12 won’t make it past their first year and 40 won’t make it past three years of being in operation.
Our research indicates that the district needs to do more to support newly-formed local businesses as only 23% of the district’s businesses are younger than four years.
50% of the district’s population are classified as ‘knowledge workers’ (e.g. Architects, Lawyers, Scientists etc…) – illustrating that Lancaster has a highly-skilled workforce available to support newlyformed businesses.

Education and Learning

Lancaster has one of the highest levels of GCSE attainment in the county and repeatedly scores above national and regional averages.
At 27.2%, Lancaster also has as one of the highest percentage of residents qualified to NVQ Level 4+ in the county - in excess of the Lancashire average of 23.6%
The number of residents who are employed in ‘Skilled Trades’ (Agricultural, Construction, Electrical etc…) is greater than the national and regional averages.
Only 20.6% of people in Lancaster hold no qualifications, the second lowest percentage in the county.

Work

At 7.8% Unemployment in Lancaster is in line with national levels but above the county average of 7.3%
Youth unemployment in Lancaster is especially high with around 25% of people aged 16-24 currently unemployed.
The average pre-tax personal income in Lancaster is just £22,300, £5,100 below the national average
Lancaster has low levels of workplace training. When quizzed only 1 in 10 people claimed they had received workplace training within the last month.

Arts, Culture & Heritage

52% of residents of Lancaster are happy with their access to museums and galleries, one of the highest rates in the entire North West.

Children, Young People & Families

18% of children in Lancaster live below the poverty line.

Environment

Lancaster has one of the worst ratings for quality of air in Lancashire, rating within the bottom 20% nationally.

Equality

Only 4.4% of people in Lancaster come from a black or ethnic minority background, considerably below the Lancashire average of 9.6% and national average of 14%.

Healthy Living

Lancaster has a cancer mortality rate well in excess of the national average, at 123.8 per 10,000 pop, compared to 105.4 nationally.

Housing and Homelessness

4.2% of Lancaster’s homes are vacant, above the national average of 3.1%.

Safety

17% of people in Lancaster think the area has an anti-social behaviour problem.

Social Isolation

18% of residents over the age of 60 live below the poverty line.

Strong Communities

More than 1 in 4 people in Lancaster give some form of unpaid help once a month.

Olive Branch

The Olive Branch’s mission is to alleviate poverty by providing an open access support centre in Lancaster. The centre provides food parcels from its food bank and provides courses in budgeting and debt avoidance.

Thank you

Thanks to Lancashire's Councils for Voluntary Services and Lancashire County Council for their support.

In association with