We’re committed to ensuring your voice is heard in your region, and that real, practical change can be driven to boost productivity and prosperity. To do this, the CBI sits on business groups across Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in the regions, making sure that businesses voice is central to their plans to drive growth across all English regions.
This monthly update gives the latest news from across the regions focused on the CBI Seize the Moment priorities; to achieve net zero, driving innovation, putting business at the heart of UK trade policy shaping a more agile skills system, and instilling a culture of valuing health more as a nation.
Latest headlines
- The first three freeports in England have launched after receiving final government approval - a year later than first expected. The freeports at Teesside, Plymouth and South Devon, and Solent will each now be able to receive up to £25m in seed capital funding from government, as well as “potentially tens of millions of pounds” in locally retained business rates.
- Two devolution deals for Suffolk and Norfolk have been announced offering the counties in the East of England more powers and funding worth over £1bn. This follows the devolution deal for Cornwall which was announced earlier this month which includes an investment fund worth £360m over 30 years. Each of the deals announced are ‘level three’ deals, which means that the counties will change their governance model to appoint a directly elected leader.
Decarbonisation
- London: The Mayor of London has confirmed the expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone London-wide will come into effect in August 2023. Alongside this expansion, the mayor confirmed a new and improved £100 million vehicle scrappage scheme.
- East of England: Government has confirmed a £700m deal for Sizewell C nuclear plant The deal will create 10,000 highly skilled jobs and provide reliable low-carbon power to the equivalent of six million homes for more than 50 years.
- North West: Ford will invest £150mn in its Halewood plant in Liverpool to expand production of electric vehicle parts. The investment means that by 2026 more than two-thirds of electric vehicles made by Ford in Europe will rely on parts manufactured at Halewood, which employs 500 people.
- North East: Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet Members approved a Net Zero Strategy. The strategy includes a vision to make Teesside the UK’s first Net Zero Airport.
Innovation
- London: The mayor’s newly appointed Data for London Advisory Board met for their inaugural meeting at City Hall. The board will bring together data and technology experts to create London’s first ever data strategy, with the aim of unleashing the power of data to improve the lives of Londoners.
- Midlands: The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology Hub has been officially opened by the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street. The new hub houses Europe’s largest Cyber Physical Manufacturing rig – a scaled down factory of the future.
- Yorkshire and Humber: Sustainable fuels technology company Velocys has secured up to £27m in government funding to support the development of a facility for the conversion of waste into aviation fuel in Immingham.
- South West: The CBI and Cheltenham’s cyber cluster, CyNam, have launched Cyber Tech West, a new demonstrator cluster which will include BT, Intel, Airbus and Raytheon. The CBI is working with regional stakeholders to establish a cluster of both national and global significance, anchored in the West and underpinned by values of collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Trade
- East of England: Cambridgeshire’s top 100 businesses have passed pre-Covid levels of trading - Cambridgeshire’s top 100 businesses have passed pre-Covid levels of trading and are reporting higher levels of turnover and underlying profits as well as employing more staff, according to Grant Thornton UK.
- South West: The South West equity finance markets grew in investment value more than any other region in the UK between 2020-21, according to figures released by the British Business Bank. The bank’s second annual Nations and Regions Tracker suggests investment value was up 357 per cent to £820 million over 130 deals.
- North West: Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram welcomed German Ambassador Miguel Berger for his first official visit to the Liverpool City Region. Germany is the second largest international market for exports of good and services from the city region and the most important partner in terms of imports.
Workforce
- North West: Jaguar Land Rover to hire 300 apprentices in the UK in 2023. The automotive giant said the recruitment drive will mean over 800 people will join its early careers programmes next year, a 55% increase on last year’s figure and a new record intake for the company.
- Yorkshire and Humber: Lloyds Bank has extended its collaboration with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to the end of 2029, with a total of £15m sponsorship. The MTC has trained and upskilled more than 2,500 engineers, graduates and apprentices during the initial eight years of the partnership.
- North East: A global IT and technology consultancy is looking to drive "substantial growth" across the North East, after establishing a new office within the Newcastle Helix development. CGI, which has set up base in The Catalyst, is working in partnership with NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) to provide career opportunities for the local area.
- Midlands: The West Midlands’ £245m sport economy can continue to bring prosperity to the region and create more jobs if the Government invests more money in women’s elite sport and supports green initiatives amongst clubs, says a new report published by law firm Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economics and Business Research
Health
- London: The Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report into Air Pollution acknowledged London has made important progress over recent years in reducing air pollution and tackling health inequalities. However, it said there was still more to do to ensure all Londoners can breathe clean air.
- North East: Teesside University’s new “cutting-edge” science, health and medical facility has reached a major milestone with a steel signing ceremony. BIOS will house four floors of lab space for subjects including anatomy, imaging, microbiology, chemistry, allied health and food sciences.
- Yorkshire & Humber: Leeds is getting ready to kickstart year of culture. The vision for Leeds 2023 is to create a thriving, exciting and inclusive Leeds. Where creativity fuels opportunity. The programme will create more opportunities for young people to gain new skills and work.
How you can get involved
- The CBI wants your views on how we can drive growth and level up our rural and coastal communities. We want to understand the opportunities and barriers to growth, and how legislative reform could make a positive difference. Contact Nicky Williams for more information and to share your views.
- If you would like more information about the CBI CyberTech West Cluster, please contact Devon Geary.
Contact the Regional Growth Team
- Mark Goldstone – Head of Regional Policy
- Jake Morris – North East and Yorkshire and Humber
- Alex Guest - North West
- Fleur Geernaert– South East and East of England
- Nicky Williams – South West
- Josh Male – Midlands
- Simon Dishman – London