Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council launched their new Place Story last week at the fabulous Silchester Farm near Basingstoke. The event was supported by business leaders from the public and private sector and heard Council Leader Simon Minas-Bound and Marelize De Beurs, Economy and Culture Marketing Manager, outlining the core elements of the Place story to be used to attract the inward investment, businesses and people to the borough.
Simon and Marelize told us:
‘The Basingstoke Story is our story and when we are talking about Basingstoke and Deane, I’m encouraging you to reflect upon that this is Austen Country. Basingstoke and Deane is a harmonious blend of urban convenience and rural tranquillity. 75% of the land is agricultural or woodland, a third of which is designated areas of outstanding natural beauty. It is the same views which once inspired Jane Austen.
We are a happy community. Life satisfaction in Basingstoke and Deane is rated 7.6 out of 10 and feeling life is worthwhile 7.9 out of 10 in figures that are higher than the national average. We are the 10th least stressed area in the entire country.
Basingstoke and Deane has a 93% resident satisfaction rate, a figure that has remained consistently high in recent years and well above the south east’s 74% average and the national 80% average. The area also rates in the top 5% for happiness among local authorities in the UK.
We are productive: 84% of the population is economically active, compared with the whole of Great Britain at 79%. The GVA per hour worked is £50.90 placing Basingstoke in the top 6% in the UK. The average weekly earnings is £699.
Basingstoke and Deane – is a happy and productive place.
Marelize and Simon went on to say that the council are looking forward to using this narrative to attract the inward investment, businesses and people that we need and invited the days guests to join them in these efforts. A copy of the Basingstoke and Deane Invest in Happiness publication is available through the link below.’
Please find a digital version of the new brochure here: Basingstoke: Invest in Happiness
You can follow the Basingstoke and Deane Business Team on LinkedIn for updates on #TheBasingstokeStory and #InvestInBasingstoke
