Council Leader Tahmina Saleem and chief executive Mark Fowler joined regional leaders for the first ever talks about how the planned Universal theme park in Bedfordshire and the expected £50billion economic boost for the UK could see Luton benefit from jobs, skills, tourism and improved transport links.
The first regional roundtable on the Universal United Kingdom Resort, brought together government, Universal Destinations and Experiences and eight local authorities to discuss how the wider region beyond the immediate Bedford area could also thrive.
The meeting was chaired by Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock at The Swan Hotel in Bedford following the government’s announcement in June of the planned resort, which is due to open in 2031.
The project is expected to create around 28,000 jobs across its construction and operation and generate nearly £50 billion for the UK economy.
For Luton, there could be opportunities around jobs and skills, education and training, creative industries, culture, heritage, tourism and local transport connectivity.
The government said the regional authorities, including Luton, want to make sure local businesses can benefit from supplying the resort while young people across the region have opportunities to gain qualifications and skills that could lead to employment.
A series of themed working groups is now being established, including groups focusing on creative industries, culture and heritage and the visitor economy.
A separate socio-economic taskforce will look at preparing the local workforce for opportunities created by the resort, including apprenticeships and internships.
Alongside Cllr Saleem and Mr Folwer, the meeting involved leaders and chief executives from councils in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Huntingdonshire, Milton Keynes, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire.
The government said the meeting demonstrated its commitment to giving local leaders a greater role in shaping how the investment benefits their communities.
Tourism Minister Stephanie Peacock said the resort should mean more than a theme park for people living nearby.
She said: “For the people of Bedford, the Universal United Kingdom Resort is more than just the thrill of a new theme park on their doorstep – it’s about the jobs, investment and opportunities it’ll create.”
The minister added that the government wanted communities across the wider region to benefit from apprenticeships, career pathways and opportunities for local businesses and tradespeople.
The regional talks are expected to continue as the project progresses towards its planned 2031 opening.
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