Leaders from across local government in the North of England have come together to launch a new partnership that will see collaboration and growth.
At a first-of-its-kind summit in York yesterday, Mayors and Council Leaders came together to agree on arrangements for partnership that will initially focus on five key areas. These focuses will support a strong, sustainable and inclusive economy in the north, able to deliver for the entirety of the UK, as well as northerners.
With the summit marking the publication of the ‘Manifesto for the North’, the five priorities are:
- Trade and Investment
- Net Zero
- People and Place
- Transport
In these five areas alone, the manifesto has outlined that collaboration has the potential to add a further £118 billion to the northern economy by 2050. This emphasis on collaboration comes as the government is focusing on driving further devolution.
Commenting on the Manifesto for the North, Co-Chair of the 2025 Convention of the North and Leader of Lancashire County Council Cllr Phillippa Williamson, said:
“As northern leaders, we are united by our belief in the North’s huge economic potential and the need to unlock this for the benefit of all our residents and businesses. Building long-term, sustainable and inclusive economic growth is a priority for us all, and by working together, and with the national government, we can deliver real change.
“This new partnership will enable us to work collaboratively on areas of common challenges and create new opportunities, both for the places we represent and for the country as a whole.
“I am also very much looking forward to Lancashire hosting the next Convention of the North in February 2025 where we will be able to showcase our partnership and just how important the economy of the North is to a successful UK plc.”
One example of how pan-northern collaboration is already working is through the commitment to establishing a One Creative North programme, which will look to grow creative industries in the north by supporting business growth and nurturing creative talent. This comes as the arts, culture and heritage sectors in the north currently contribute £10.4 billion to the wider UK economy, bringing more than 170,000 jobs. Despite this, nearly 70% of the country’s creative industries are focused on London and the South East, meaning that there is potential to continue to build on the North’s creative strengths.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin touched on the One Creative North commitment:
“From the BBC in Salford and Channel 4 in Leeds, to the plans for the Crown Works Film Studios in Sunderland, it is an incredibly exciting time for creative industries in the North.
“So I’m delighted to announce the launch of One Creative North – a new partnership body, powered by devolution and chaired by the amazing Jude Kelly, supporting the growth of the creative industries across the North.
“By building the talent pipelines we need, and backing our arts organisations to continue to nurture and export homegrown talent, we’ll deliver the economic growth the North needs and deserves.”
Image credit: iStock
