Mayors across the north of England are forming a new body to champion investment opportunities in the region, unlocking a new era of jobs, opportunity and prosperity for the North.
The Great North partnership, which is endorsed by the government and chaired by North East CA mayor Kim McGuinness (Lab), will be launched at the UKReiiF investment summit in Leeds this week, which brings local leaders together to unlock the North’s economic potential in key sectors including clean energy, defence and advanced manufacturing and creative industries.
The partnership will lead “international trade missions on pan-Northern investment propositions” as well as hosting a new Northern Investment Summit.
Opportunities for the North identified by Mayors include:
- An energy coast proposition down the east coast powering the clean energy revolution, building on 50% of England’s renewable energy already being generated in the north.
- The Northern Arc and White Rose Plan stretching from the north west across the Pennines anchored by investment in the Transpennine Route Upgrade and proposals in the White Rose Rail report and Liverpool-Manchester Railway.
- A northern security corridor reaching down from Cumbria and the North East through Lancashire, and bringing together key industrial, engineering and cyber assets that will be essential in securing the UK’s international security.
- Advanced materials and manufacturing corridors bringing together Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, with links into key neighbouring economies, or between the North East and Tees Valley.
- The One Creative North partnership which will build on and boost the North of England’s creative industries, driving inward investment and economic growth, and delivering new opportunities for creatives and communities to thrive.
A new report from the partnership will reveal how the North could “add £118bn to UK PLC with the right investments”, – with the North leading the way as the UK pursues security in uncertain global context, with growth, energy security and defence top of the agenda.
The initiative is backed by all seven of the region’s mayors as well as Sir Brendan Foster, the founder of the Great North Run.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, said:
“The need for the North of England to speak with a strong, collective voice has never been greater. Devolution is enabling us to deliver better public services and better value for money for taxpayers.
“But the feeling here is one of potential still waiting to be unlocked. The Great North is our opportunity to come together, as Mayors and as regions, to champion our strengths and put forward our proposition – to the Government, the country and the rest of the world.”
Chair of The Great North and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said ““The time has come for a resurgent north to unite and proudly lead the way to a fairer more prosperous UK, and The Great North is our vehicle for change. This country needs a northern story written by northern minds, not one handed to us by Whitehall, and this Great North partnership puts us on track to write it.
“Whether it is powering the nation’s homes or powering its imagination, this is the north that will lead the way, building on a great legacy. The opportunity is immense and we are ready to work with anyone who is equally determined to create good jobs.
“Whether you are investing here or growing an existing business, you will know that the people of the north are our biggest asset, and now The Great North partnership is here to build on their pride in place.
“People choose this northern life, and we are proud to work together on the next chapter of The Great North.”
Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, said: “We are taking action to shift power out of Whitehall and into our communities, giving local leaders the tools they need to realise their areas’ potential.
“Initiatives like The Great North are critical to this – putting directly elected mayors front and centre of exciting plans for regional collaboration, in the places they know better than anyone else, building stronger and happier communities in the process.”
Steve Rotheram (Lab), the Liverpool City Region mayor, said: “By working together, northern mayors are showing that devolution isn’t just about shifting powers from Westminster – it’s about reshaping our future on our own terms.”
