Preston Leader Cllr Matthew Brown first proposed the inception of a Key Cities Shared Economy and Progressive Procurement portfolio which was fully endorsed by the meeting. The purpose of this portfolio is to develop a Key Cities workstream to promote the value of creating a shared economy and utilising progressive procurement to build a resilient and inclusive economy for the benefit of a local area.

This approach seeks to harness the economic and social power of anchor institutions routed locally to their community, to both influence and enact change for a generative local economy. Cllr Brown is keen to see Preston City Council’s community wealth-building projects replicated across other cities to bring social benefits to communities across urban UK.