We produced a Baseline Economic Assessment of the relative performance of Ryedale’s economy set in the context of wider performance trends across North Yorkshire and England. Alongside reporting on pertinent district-wide trends, we provided analysis of sub-area performance across the four district towns of Malton & Norton, Pickering, Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside.

Underpinning the summary Assessment Report was a more detailed Economic Indicator Database, compiled to provide a catalogue of time-series performance indicators across a range of socio-economic strands, broadly to a ‘people, business, place’ theme. This included detailed analysis of population change, labour market performance, labour flows, occupations, skills, business stocks and business churn rates, GVA and earnings, deprivation, employment land supply and housing and digital performance.

The research also included detailed sectoral analysis to identify five bespoke priority sectors for the district. Those prioritised sectors comprised Land Industries, Production and Engineering, Bio-Agritech, the Visitor and Creative Economy and Business and Digital Services.

Once defined and agreed with the Council, we carried out more detailed research into each sectoral priority to help identify sub-sector strengths, local assets and sector dynamics to help strengthen the evidence base. The Baseline Economic Assessment Report was produced to inform the production of the Ryedale Economic Strategy refresh and the report concluded with our suggested recommendations for potential Strategy themes and thoughts on possible measures of success which could be carried forward within the Strategy.