ABOUT 10,000 new jobs could be created across Worcestershire over the next five years under a groundbreaking plan for fresh investment.

A blueprint to 2017, revealed by a body of business experts and council leaders, has outlined a major attempt to boost the county’s economy.

One idea is to set up a new Bank of Worcestershire which could source finance from the Government and private bodies towards new business creation.

The masterplan, by the Worcestershire Local Enter-prise Partnership (LEP), is aiming to secure £750 million of new money for the county by 2017. Bosses say they will focus on specific areas of the county for jobs creation – including Worcester city, Malvern Hills Science Park, Bromsgrove, Redditch and Kidderminster.

It includes the new Worcester Technology Park, which is planned for land near junction 6 of the M5.

The people behind the blueprint say they will also focus on job creation in specific sectors – including manufacturing, tourism, cyber security, food production and environmental technology.

The masterplan, which LEP chiefs say is an aspirational one, is aimed at increasing the overall employment rate by five per cent over that period.

Peter Pawsey, chairman of the LEP, said: “The Local Enterprise Partnership is a catalyst that is listening to the needs of Worcestershire, seeking to broker collaboration to create new jobs, supporting new businesses and the longevity and growth of existing businesses.

“We must project the many and unique qualities that exist across the county in order to attract further economic growth and activity.

“So what is it that we will do differently in order to achieve more positive re-sults? We will be proactive in seeking investors, enabling development, reducing barriers, red tape and processes, supporting our key business sectors and in projecting to the ‘world’ the fantastic assets that we enjoy in Worcestershire.”

Worcester MP Robin Walker said: “I think it’s very exciting – 10,000 jobs is a great aspiration.”

The LEP has £556,000 of funding for the current 2012/13 financial year, which will go on its running costs.

The masterplan is being unveiled before both public and private sector partners at Sixways tomorrow.