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- Northern Powerhouse: revival plans for prosperity
Northern Powerhouse: revival plans for prosperity
In advance of mayoral elections, the CBI is setting out how metro mayors can drive regional recovery and enable businesses to thrive.
The pandemic has demonstrated that when business and government work together, it can deliver positive outcomes for all. It has also shown the value of empowering local leaders to deliver on behalf of their communities, whether through the distribution of grants, ensuring our high streets are COVID secure, or through schemes that support young people access the labour market at this challenging time.
With upcoming elections across the north in West Yorkshire, the Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley and Greater Manchester, the CBI has developed a series of revival plans which set out priorities and recommendations for the newly elected metro mayors.
These plans set out the need for a short-term focus on supporting businesses that have been affected by the pandemic, but also encourage the mayors to have an eye to longer-term ambitions, including how to drive productivity growth through a strong economic vision.
The CBI and its members stand ready to support metro mayors across the north as they look to recover from the pandemic and thrive in the future.
Across all four revival plans, there are three underpinning recommendations for new metro mayors. These are:
- Champion regional dynamism and global competitiveness to raise living standards
Metro mayors have the opportunity to harness new powers to promote their region nationally and internationally. Developing a strong economic vision and pro-business agenda that bridges regional divides will be key to achieving this.
- Transform digital and physical infrastructure on the race to net zero
Regions across the north should be at the forefront of the race to net zero. Each metro mayor should focus on a green recovery that reflects our new ways of working and maximise opportunities to improve equity within their combined authority, becoming more resilient to future challenges.
- Stimulate job creation and secure an inclusive workforce for the future.
Metro mayors control a devolved adult education budget. They should therefore develop local responses to jobs and skills needs, creating the conditions to revive and thrive as we look beyond the pandemic.
What does this mean for each region?
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is set to elect their first ever metro mayor in May. This is a pivotal moment for the region with the metro mayor to gain control of a range of powers and long-term funding to deliver against a strategic vision. This vision should focus on existing strengths in health and care, advanced manufacturing, professional and financial services, creative and digital sectors, and in net zero innovation.
To succeed the newly elected metro mayor should look to maximise the value of the new devolved powers. This should be done in a collaborative way, with the metro mayor building new relationships with the region’s industrial base, its networks of higher and further education providers, and the internationally renowned centres of innovation and R&D.
Join the CBI’s West Yorkshire Mayoral Hustings on 23 March, 9am-10:30am.
Liverpool City Region
The newly elected metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region will be the champion of this unique, hardworking and culturally vibrant region. With a strong history of trade, industry and connectivity, the metro mayor has solid foundations upon which to build. Focus should be on growing sector strengths, including health and life sciences, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and advanced manufacturing, as well as playing a strong role on the race to net zero.
However, the metro mayor will be entering office at an extremely challenging time for the region and as such should focus their efforts into turning the Liverpool City Region into a healthier, more productive and thriving place. This should enable businesses to succeed, recognising that a strong economy that delivers growth and good jobs can raise living standards and wages for all.
Join the CBI’s Liverpool City Region Mayoral Hustings on 24 March, 11:30am-13:00pm.
Tees Valley
For a geographically small region, the Tees Valley punches well above its weight on the domestic and international stage. This hard working and influential region has the opportunity to be at the forefront of some of the UK’s globally competitive industries, including chemicals and process, advanced manufacturing, bioscience and the low-carbon and hydrogen industries.
Alongside a strong economic vision, to be a success a renewed partnership is needed between the metro mayor, businesses, neighbouring authorities, unions and the third sector, as well as all parts of government. This will allow the region, already hard hit by the impacts of the pandemic, to revive and thrive in the future.
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester has long been at the front of England’s devolution journey. Now is the time to build on the history of collaboration and innovation within the region and take existing powers further than ever. Supporting growing industries such as health care, advanced manufacturing, digital and creative, and net zero will be vital to creating a thriving Greater Manchester in the future.
However, the newly elected metro mayor can take this further, working closely with businesses to deliver an integrated, sustainable transport system, a local skills agenda, and capitalising on health and social care devolution to turn the region into a healthier, more productive and thriving place.
Join the CBI’s Greater Manchester Mayoral Hustings on 25 March, 9am-10:30am.
Get Involved
The CBI is hosting a series of business hustings to give you the opportunity to hear directly from some of the mayoral candidates in advance of the elections. Explore and book onto all of our hustings across the country.
As well as this, the CBI is developing three-point regional actions plans based upon the three key themes from Reviving Regions:
- Build vibrant local labour markets
- Transform local infrastructure to facilitate new ways of working
- Inspire world-class, innovative businesses to invest in all regions
Get involved with this work and have your voice heard
These will shape our regional policy for the months ahead. It you would like more information, or to get involved please contact Hannah Richmond.