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   Northwest ready to help drive the national recovery
A new report by the Smith Institute ‘The future of the North West’ including chapters by Sir Richard Leese (Chair, 4NW and Leader of Manchester City Council), Robert Hough (Chairman, NWDA), Jim Buchanan (Leader, Cumbria County Council), Flo Clucas (Deputy Leader of Liverpool City Council) and Professor Michael Parkinson (Liverpool John Moores University) is being launched at a seminar with the regional minister (Phil Woolas MP) in the House of Parliament today (25 February).
The authors highlight the growth potential of the North West and call for greater economic powers to improve the regions competitive advantage. The authors also call for long-term support for the region’s newly emerging low carbon energy sector The North West has been at the forefront of the regional renaissance. Over the past decade its economy has grown faster than the average, new industries have emerged, and there have been sharp reductions in unemployment and poverty. The North West now has a £120 billion economy, bigger than 15 EU member countries. However, the recession has given the region some real challenges. If the region is to continue to be a success and meet these challenges it must be given greater powers to improve its competitiveness and seize new opportunities. The North West has a clear vision of where it is headed. It has four key priorities: capitalising on low-carbon-economy; increasing competitiveness; realising the potential of all; and ensuring housing and infrastructure for growth. The North West must capitalise on the move to a low-carbon economy. The growth in green collar jobs and business opportunities will be key to future growth and to reducing the region’s carbon footprint. The North West’s climate, proximity to the coast and research capacity gives it a competitive edge over other regions in renewable energy and green growth. The North West has to recognise and build on other areas of competitiveness: cultural, sporting and heritage assets; great rural areas; excellent universities; business strengths such as advanced engineering, bio-medicine, tourism and creative industries; and the huge potential in energy supply. Much of this growth will come through an educated workforce but poverty and low skills in some areas are holding the region back. There is a clear business case for realising the potential of all: by businesses investing in people they are investing in their future success. The demand-led approach to skills and emphasis on vocational training are welcome but needs to be extended further. The North West needs to improve its existing housing infrastructure. Poor housing stands in the way of attracting and retaining the economically active and concentrates the dependent in deprived communities. Housing type, supply, quality and location all need to be addressed. Although the region is well connected (far better than many) much could still be done. High-speed rail could make the North West better connected to London and Europe and so improve its competitiveness. There are clear examples of the regional partners working together - responding to the labour market downturn; gaining statutory city-region status for Manchester; responding to the floods in Cumbria at the end of last year; and by being the first region to step up to the challenge of developing a single regional strategy. The government should be encouraging more partnership working. Cllr Tony McDermott MBE, Leader of Halton Borough Council, said: “To realise our vision the region must work together. Some decisions are best taken at a regional level which is local enough to listen to communities but big enough to pull people together on large-scale programmes and projects. This is particularly true in strategic decisions on transport, science and innovation. “The tough economic climate means there is even more of an incentive for the region to work together. The region needs to ensure growth, minimise redundancies and retain skills, and stop the economic divide with the South East widening further.” Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: “‘The future of the North West’ is a considered piece of work that has contributions from private and public stakeholders from across the region and has the support of all the major political parties. It focuses on the key social and economic issues affecting our region. It also shows the potential of England’s Northwest to be a powerhouse to the new economy of UKPLC with our advantages regarding sectors such as environmental, nuclear and digital technologies.” Paul Hackett, Director, The Smith Institute, said: “The North West has the potential to lead the north out of the recession but government needs to give the region more economic control over its destiny and recognise the value of its partnerships.” Due to problems with spam only SalfordOnline members can now leave comments. Becoming a member of SalfordOnline only takes a minute, just hit the red Join Us button at the top right hand side of the page to create your Personal account. Got a news story? Need help with publicity for an event in Salford? Send it to newsdesk@salfordonline.com or call the SalfordOnline newsdesk on 0161 789 5377. |
