Uncategorized Archives - Page 4 of 7 - North East Local Enterprise Partnership

SEVEN North East authorities, with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, are coming together to showcase all that the region has to offer at the UK’s premier international business event later this month.

Members of the North East Combined Authority (NECA) – made up of Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland councils – are uniting with the North East LEP to provide a single gateway for investors looking to work with the region – Invest North East England – and will be presenting the North East’s offer at the International Festival for Business (IFB) in Liverpool.

Invest North East England will make it easier for developers and enterprises interested in setting up in the area to get the support they need to do business here. Providing a one-stop-shop for inward investment in the North East, the service will allow the seven local authorities to present one shared image of the region, playing to the area’s strengths in manufacturing and engineering; life sciences and healthcare; software and technology; subsea oil and gas, new and renewable energy; and professional, financial and business services. The authorities will attend the IFB on July 21 and 22, showcasing the region at Made in the UK, a series of conferences that focus on the manufacturing sector with anticipated attendance by developers and senior business people from the UK and overseas.

Chair of the North East Combined Authority, Councillor Simon Henig, said the event represented a significant step forward for the combined authority, and was a clear statement of the seven local authorities’ strengthening partnership.

He said: “We believe strongly that the sum of what we offer is greater than the parts, and attending this event together is a real statement of intent for us. It is about showing the world what we have to offer in the North East, with one shared voice and a set of common strengths.

“The event is likely to be very well attended from people across the country and indeed, from overseas, so it is a great chance to showcase our region and start conversations with people who are looking for a place to do business.”
Cllr Paul Watson, Economic Development and Regeneration lead at the combined authority, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for us to make our case for the North East and what we have to offer as a region to potential investors.

The North East has all of the assets and attributes to make a compelling case to investors and organisations looking to expand their business here.

“The attendance of the North East Combined Authority at an event like the International Festival for Business provides an opportunity to clearly articulate our offer to a national and international audience, and I am sure we will all benefit greatly from being part of this event.”

Paul Woolston Chair of the North East LEP said: “The North East has a great story to tell – alongside an excellent workforce and blossoming private sector, we have record levels of productivity growth, employment and economic growth as well as being the only region to have a consistent positive trade balance. The IFB is a great opportunity to showcase this to investors. By coming together to exhibit as Invest North East we present a strong and unified voice for the area and it is an example of how the North East is working in partnership to bring investment to the area.”

The International Festival for Business is the largest global concentration of business events during 2014, and is running over 50 days across seven weeks in June and July. The event will attract business delegates and trade intermediaries from around the world and is a key part of the government’s target of rebalancing the economy and achieving its export and investment objectives. As well as attending this event, the authorities will come together again to attend MIPIM UK, a real estate and property show that will be held in London in October.

The North East Combined Authority got the green light in April, a move that councils believe will give them a stronger voice when it comes to attracting jobs and investment to the region.

The North East emerged as one of the top three winners from the government’s local growth deals, with £290m investment to be spent on skills and employment projects, housebuilding and transport links. The top two cities were London and Manchester.

Earlier today Minister for Communities and Local Government, Brandon Lewis MP, visited some of the major regional projects that will be completed as a result of the Local Growth Deal funding.

He started off his visit at Merchant Park in Newton Aycliffe to see progress at the Hitachi Rail project, then discussed the Sunderland Enterprise and Innovation Hub’s Fab Lab with senior representatives from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, University of Sunderland and Sunderland City Council. He ended his visit in Newcastle seeing progress at the Stephenson Quarter and Central Station in the heart of the city.

The North East LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan has proved to be one of the most successful in achieving significant results for the region. The Local Growth Deal will also provide funding in each of Strategic Economic Plan’s six themes, which are innovation, skills, business support, transport, developing economic assets and supporting inclusive growth.

Paul Woolston, chair of the North East LEP said: “The breadth and depth of the Local Growth Deal for the North East means we will create and develop thousands of new jobs, generate major new business investment opportunities and implement a life-changing schools-led model to boost prospects for local students.

“It is exciting that major strategic decisions on long-term economic growth are being made by the people who know the area best, including the dedicated board members and team at the enterprise partnership working with public, private and voluntary sector partners. Experienced, committed local people will direct, manage and deliver these projects to benefit current and future generations.”

The deal includes many of the projects which were submitted to government in the North East Strategic Economic Plan to begin in 2015/16. The enterprise partnership will work with partners to deliver these projects, and continue to progress all aspects of the Strategic Economic Plan to create more and better jobs in the North East.

The Sunderland Fab Lab – digital fabrication laboratory – is the first in the North East. The University of Sunderland will co-locate a Fab Lab with incubation and business unit space to enable ideas trialled and prototyped through Fab Lab to be developed as businesses on site.

At the heart of the Fab Lab is digital manufacturing technology, combining 2D and 3D design with the latest fabrication technology. This is an area in which University of Sunderland is well placed to specialise, as the AMAP team and facilities have provided this kind of support to industry for many years.

Projects in the North East LEP area which will benefit from Local Growth deal funding include Merchant Park 2, Newton Aycliffe, Swans Wet Birth Infill, North Tyneside, the Rural Growth Network Infrastructure, and innovation, skills and transport programmes.

The projects which did not receive funding in this announcement are part of the Strategic Economic Plan to create more and better jobs, and the North East LEP will continue to assist partners with progressing them.

Paul Woolston has been reappointed as chairman of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership for a second three-year term.

Sunderland-born Mr Woolston, who recently retired as a senior partner with PwC North, was initially appointed as chairman in July 2011 when he took over the role from interim incumbent Paul Walker. He has been confirmed in the role for a second term by the board of the North East LEP.

As one of the very first enterprise partnership appointments, he has been at the helm of the organisation during its formative years and has overseen the creation of policies and initiatives designed to make a long-term difference to the regional economy.

Mr Woolston said: “In the next three years and beyond, the implementation of the North East Strategic Economic Plan will be one of the LEP’s main focuses. The 10-year plan for growth and employment, which lays out ambitious plans to create a further 100,000 jobs over the next decade, is based on the findings of the North East Independent Economic Review commissioned by the LEP.

“The Strategic Economic Plan sets out a route for the region to be more globally competitive and create more and better jobs. Building on the Adonis Review, it has a clear, cohesive strategy to propel long-term growth in the North East and channel future investment most effectively.

“In the LEP’s first three years we have also introduced the North East Investment Fund, which has provided millions of pounds in loans and investments for North East companies, and the enterprise partnership has attracted half a billion pounds in European Structural and Infrastructure funds to the region.”

The North East is the only LEP area to have two City Deals in place, and the enterprise partnership was selected as one of three Skills Pilot areas in the UK.

Mr Woolston said: “As chairman of the North East LEP, I was involved in the detail of putting together the North East Strategic Economic Plan and I’m delighted that my re-appointment means I will be among those putting the plan into action.

“There are a number of exciting initiatives in the pipeline, but ensuring this ambitious plan is bedded in will be absolutely essential to our future regional prosperity.

“Chairing the North East LEP is a huge honour and responsibility. We have achieved a great deal in our first three years, and still have much to do in the future to reach our ambitious targets for growth and productivity. I’m delighted to be working with a talented, dedicated team of board members and LEP staff to propel momentum.”

Paul Woolston will also be concentrating on the development and occupation of the 10 North East enterprise zone sites, which are set to play a major role in future job creation, and the implementation of the Government’s skills pilot across the North East.

Andrew Hodgson, vice-chair of the North East LEP and chief executive of SMD said: “Paul’s extraordinary commitment has been behind our successes and progress since inception. He has built influential, interlinking contacts at national, international and regional levels which help to oil the wheels of change. We are delighted he will be at the helm for the next three years, to see some of the far-reaching initiatives he helped to create come to fruition.”

Cllr Simon Henig, vice-chair of the North East LEP and chair of the Combined Authority, said: “Paul’s reappointment will provide welcome continuity. The role of chairman of the LEP is a key one in ensuring the LEP and Combined Authority continue to work together to achieve our shared goals in the priority areas of transport, employment and skills. I look forward to the relationship developing successfully for the benefit of the North East.”

AN OFFICIAL signing of the Sunderland City Deal in Partnership with South Tyneside has taken place.

It was done today (Monday 16 June) at the Unipres manufacturing plant in Cherry Blossom Way, off the A1290, close to where plans are being readied for a 100-hectare International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) as part of the City Deal.

The park land is to the west of the A19 and sits across the borders of Sunderland and South Tyneside. A manufacturing park here is predicted to attract £295m of private sector investment and create an estimated 5,200 new jobs.

The development – the equivalent of 140 football pitches of new industry and business park – would house automotive, off-shore and other hi-tech businesses. It would build on the North East region’s track record for manufacturing and exports.

As well as the park, the deal confirmed £82.5m towards Sunderland’s new Wear bridge project and backing for developing the city’s Vaux site into a central business district.

Signing on behalf of the Government was Cities Minister Greg Clark who was joined by council and business leaders.

Paul Woolston, Chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership said: “The Sunderland and South Tyneside City Deal is a great opportunity for the North East. It is a significant step towards delivering our ambitious plans to create more and better jobs through making, trading and innovating.

“The International Advanced Manufacturing Park builds on the success of the North East Enterprise Zone and cements our international reputation in manufacturing. The deal shows that through partnership working we can achieve great things for the North East.”

Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Today we have put pen to paper and signed off this key document.

“This is a very significant moment for Sunderland, for South Tyneside and the wider North East region.

“The Government recognises how the City Deal is going to be a catalyst for future economic growth. This park and its regeneration benefits will be seen and felt across the whole North East region and indeed the country.
“We have worked closely with the Government, with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP), and we received tremendous backing from our friends in business and the private sector.

“Already, we’ve started engaging with the construction and engineering industry about our new road bridge over the Wear between Pallion and Castletown.

“We’re getting on with a building a bridge that people in Sunderland have been campaigning about for 50 years. This river crossing is going to help open up more regeneration opportunities and smooth traffic flows.

“Work has also started and more is planned on improvements to the A19 corridor.

“Signing here today in Unipres is very significant because it is this type of high calibre manufacturing that is going to be housed in the business park. There is pent-up demand for more manufacturing jobs in our region and especially around this crucial A19 corridor through Sunderland and South Tyneside.

“In working closely with the private sector, the City Deal has reflected our regional priorities of promoting more growth and our strengths in manufacturing.

“These priorities are also very much in line with Sunderland’s very own Economic Masterplan.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg had invited Sunderland and South Tyneside to bid for the deal at the beginning of 2013 and approved it in March 2014.

Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “This deal is of international significance, and shows the scale of our shared ambition and our commitment to economic growth in spite of the difficult financial climate.

“We know there is potential for manufacturing jobs in our region and strong interest in land for advanced manufacturing, and this deal can now move forward and make it a reality.

“In South Tyneside we have secured record levels of investment in recent years, and we are continuing to invest through things like the £100m South Shields 365 vision.

“Above all, today is about councils and business working together to create the jobs and growth the area needs.

“When it was announced, the deal was being compared in its scale and size to when Nissan first announced that it was moving to the region.”

Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet is looking at the stages of the deal, including drawing up planning policies, when it meets in two days time (Wednesday 18 June).

The deal is seeing Sunderland and South Tyneside working closely with the NELEP, plus the Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland Combined Authority.

Unipres employs in excess of 1000 staff at its Sunderland plant manufacturing a wide range of car body structural parts for automotive customers including Nissan and Honda.

Gary Graham, Managing Director of Unipres (UK) Limited, said:
“It is a great honour for Unipres to host the signing of this historical deal.

“The development of the manufacturing park and infrastructure improvements should prove a massive boost for the region’s economy and reinforces the growing reputation of the location as an advanced manufacturing hub.”
Equipped with state-of-the-art press and assembly technology, Unipres specialises in processes that use high tensile materials, tailored blank welding and hot pressing to meet customers growing demands for lighter, stronger components.

The company has invested over £60m in the past two years to increase its production capacity in Sunderland. Since the company was established 1987 sales turnover has increased to over £190m.

Sir,

I found Andy Beckett’s magazine piece on the North East partial, lazy and written without recourse to the facts he was presented with on the day and subsequently.

The North East of England has more people in employment today than ever before. In the last year employment has risen fast, with an additional 40,000 people in work today. Over the last three years the economy of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership area has also enjoyed productivity and output growth that has outpaced all other English regions.

Despite being introduced to it on his visit Mr Beckett ignored the fact that that the region’s IT and technology sector has grown to tens of thousands of employees in recent years in companies from the largest financial service outsourcers to high end niche businesses. He also forgot to note that 150 contractors work at the National Renewable Energy Centre at Blyth alongside the 70 core staff on projects that bring technology from around the world to be tested and assured for deployment on global settings. We may as well not have taken him to Nissan’s global training centre for electric vehicle manufacture which sits next to its world class manufacturing plant, directly employing over 6,000, in Washington.

The North East is achieving growth whilst retaining greater levels of equality than any other part of the country. The region has the most equal distribution of salaries in the country, with fewer workers taking home salaries in the bottom ten per cent of national earnings than anywhere else in the country. Again this is not reflected in Mr Beckett’s piece, nor is the fact that once the cost of living is taken into account, average salaries in the North East are worth £3,000 more each year than those of people who have to deal with the daily pollution and congestion of London.

Our trade surplus, the growth in manufacturing employment alongside the rapid rise of our service sector, and the easy access for North Easterners to the unique combination of world heritage sites, National Parks, World Dark Skies Park, stunning beaches and coastal castles were also missed.

From my own perspective the description of my move to the area in 2012 and from the LEP to Atom next week could not be further from the truth. I was brought up in the North East and with my family made a very personal choice to come back here – a decision not made by the Treasury. My decision to resign from the civil service, leave employment certainty and a pension behind and join a group of entrepreneurs to set up the first genuinely digital bank and to base it in the North East means that I am not ‘off’ anywhere. Rather I am making a very clear choice to put roots deep down and build a business in this most distinctive and wonderful area with people whose sights are set a lot higher than your article suggests.

Of course the North East has its share of problems, of which perpetuated myths and under-reporting are two. Mr Beckett is not wholly to blame for the overwhelming attack that the article received on your message boards. Your picture editor should also step out a bit more, preferably facing north.

Yours faithfully,
Edward Twiddy

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership has unveiled its ambitious vision for the area’s economy to provide over one million jobs by 2024. ‘More and Better Jobs: A Strategic Economic Plan for the North East’ builds on the recommendations of last year’s Independent Economic Review chaired by Lord Andrew Adonis and presents a clear sense of direction for the area’s future. The plan sets out an agenda to create 100,000 new jobs in the next decade, equivalent to an 11% increase in employment.

The plan commits the enterprise partnership to fund the design of a North East Schools Challenge and seeks the support of government to join an alliance between schools, businesses and local education authorities to tackle disparities in educational performance across the area.

The plan also proposes the establishment of a new North East Development and Investment Fund. This innovative, locally-led solution would unlock economic assets and infrastructure and deliver greater value through better coordination of public funds and assets to leverage private sector investment in the area.

Paul Woolston, chair of the North East LEP, said: “The North East Strategic Economic Plan sets out an ambitious vision for the area, but our recent economic performance tells us that it is entirely achievable. In recent years our businesses and people have outperformed national growth rates for output, productivity and employment. In just twelve months, nearly 20,000 additional jobs have been created.

“In response to the findings of the independent review and following extensive engagement with local stakeholders and partners, we have drawn up a comprehensive plan which builds on recent momentum to deliver employment and economic growth in the area.

“We will direct Government and European funding to areas where they will have greatest impact in creating and sustaining more and better jobs to grow our economy.”

Building on the political leadership of the Combined Authority, the plan provides a clear pathway for local decision-making and the joint roles of the Local Enterprise Partnership and the Combined Authority. Councillor Henig, chair of the Combined Authority, said: “The establishment of a Combined Authority is an important milestone in strengthening local decision-making and demonstrates the commitment of political leaders in the North East to working together to deliver this shared ambition for economic growth.”

The plan builds upon proposals for allocating European Structural and Investment Funds between 2014 and 2020 and sets out the area’s bid to the Local Growth Fund. In total the plan seeks to invest £1.6bn of public and private funds to create more and better jobs across six key themes: innovation; business support and access to finance; skills; employability and inclusion; economic assets and infrastructure; and transport and digital connectivity.

The Strategic Economic Plan for the North East was submitted to government on 31 March 2014. The commercial sensitivity of information included in this submission on individual projects bidding to the Local Growth Fund has necessitated a process of redaction to produce this public document. We expect that further information on individual projects will be released in due course as the competitive process of Local Growth Fund bidding comes to a conclusion later this year.

LEP welcomes region’s record performance.

The North East’s labour productivity is growing at the fastest rate in the UK, according to newly published figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The official data, focusing on Gross Added Value (GVA) and hours worked, also shows the region is performing at its best level since the ONS started producing comparisons based on this economic indicator in 2004.

Calculations of the GVA/hours worked showed that productivity in the North East Local Enterprise Partnership area grew by 14% between 2009 and 2012.

The region also showed the highest growth rate in the UK using the ONS’s alternative labour productivity measure of GVA/job filled in the latest available figures, covering the 2009 to 2011 period. Again, this measure shows the North East LEP area reached its highest ever level of productivity since the ONS started this series of comparisons in 2002.

North East LEP chief economist, Mauricio Armellini, said:
“Employment is a measure of quantity but GVA adds the wages paid and the profits made, so GVA is telling a much more interesting economic story. It is a more comprehensive measure of the economy.

“This measure of productivity divides the production by how many people are working or how many hours are worked. To increase it, you need to produce more with the same or with less, which you achieve by having more productive people in the workforce or by firms becoming more productive in their methods.”

The latest figures are further evidence of growing productivity in the North East LEP area, which covers County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. In December, the ONS GVA figures for 2012 showed the region was ahead of the national average growth, with a 1.7% expansion compared to the 1.6% UK average. Overall, North East GVA growth was the third highest of the UK regions in 2012 and expanded at double the rate of London and the West Midlands.

Mr Armellini said:
“It’s not just a blip. The GVA growth shows that our area is producing more; the productivity growth shows that we are producing more with less. So it’s not just a quantitative improvement, it’s also a qualitative improvement.

“The LEP’s Strategic Economic plan is poised to take us further in this direction, creating more jobs and businesses, particularly productive businesses and up-skilling people to develop this part of the economy. Through the SEP we have identified GVA as being a really important measure. It is a key indicator of economic growth and of achieving our progress towards more and better jobs.”

The LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) is currently being prepared for presentation to the Government following a consultation with stakeholders. It prioritises areas for action and sets out a vision that by 2030 ‘the North East will be a globally competitive economy, with more and better jobs created through making, trading and innovating’.

Paul Woolston, chair of the North East LEP, said:
“The latest GVA indicators are confirmation that the region is moving in the right direction. Although we are starting from a lower productivity and employment base than many other regions, our strong growth shows the North East is narrowing the productivity gap.

“Once we are able to begin implementing the SEP, we expect our rate of productivity to climb even more swiftly.”

A high-level appointment to strengthen leadership and strategic planning in the region has been made by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Sophie Haagensen joins the North East LEP in the new role of deputy director this month to play a central role in driving and implementing the North East LEP’s regional strategies, including the Strategic Economic Plan.

Sophie has previously held key roles with government offices in London and the North East. She joins from the Department for Work and Pensions where she led strategy management, heading a team responsible for providing advice to government ministers on the viability of new policy proposals. She also advised on the long-term digitalisation of services and a major organisational restructure.

She was formerly with the Cabinet Office in London where she project managed the setup of Big Society Capital, the world’s first social investment bank, and oversaw the £150m loan book of the Futurebuilders fund.

Edward Twiddy, director of the North East LEP said:
“Sophie is a strong addition to the North East LEP’s team and an excellent replacement for strategy manager Gillian Roll. She brings new skills and experiences to this key role for the LEP. She has recognised expertise in strategic roles and an impressive track record of leading complex projects.

“Sophie’s understanding of the region’s private, social enterprise and public sectors will add strength and depth to the LEP team at an important time, as we near the end of consultation for the region’s long-term strategic economic plan before it goes forward to government in March.“

The Strategic Economic Plan, drafted by the North East LEP, is an essential piece in the development of a North East agenda for growth. Produced with partners it sets out a clear vision and investment programme for the area, identifying key priorities and actions.

The final SEP will become the core of both the North East LEP’s bid to Government’s £2bn per annum Local Growth Fund, and other programmes that will be funded from local, national and European sources.

Sophie Haagensen said:
“Having held strategic management roles within central government, I am delighted to now join the North East LEP to help shape the development of long-term plans to create jobs and economic growth in my home region.

“Social investment is also an important priority for the region. The North East LEP is committed to making this region the most advanced market for social enterprise in the UK, and it is built into all of the LEP’s strategies. This focus will help establish commercially viable social enterprises that will have a lasting impact across the region.”

Sophie has an MBA from Newcastle Business School, where she received the award for the ‘best postgraduate student’ as well as an award for her research dissertation on business clusters and the Newcastle Science City development. She also developed an idea for a social enterprise, which won Northumbria University’s business competition and was runner-up in the Blueprint regional finals.

Sophie’s first Civil Service post involved implementing a new service delivery model across Tees Valley district. She gained business experience in the private sector in the North East prior to joining the Civil Service. Sophie was born and schooled in Durham, where she now lives.

Businesses, individuals and voluntary and community organisations are invited to have their say on a new ambitious North East Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) which aims to bring billions of pounds and many thousands of jobs to the North East.

The plan, drafted by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is an essential piece in the development of a North East agenda for growth. Produced with partners it sets out a clear vision and investment programme for the area, identifying key priorities and actions.

The final SEP will become the core of both the North East LEP’s bid to Government’s £2bn per annum Local Growth Fund, and programmes that will be funded for other local, national and European sources.

The vision set out in the North East Strategic Economic Plan is that “by 2030, the North East will be a globally competitive economy, with more and better jobs created through making, trading and innovating.”

To achieve the SEP’s vision, by 2024 the North East LEP intends to halve the gap between the North East and the national average (excluding London) on five key indicators: gross value added (GVA) per full time equivalent (FTE): private sector employment density: business density: employment rate and unemployment rate.

Lord Andrew Adonis, who chaired the North East Independent Economic Review, welcomes the progress of the North East SEP. He said: “The North East Strategic Economic Plan provides a fantastic opportunity for the North East economy to truly realise its potential. The first task for the North East is to agree this draft plan, and once approved, implement it. There is huge capacity for the region’s future success, with will, leadership and a clear plan for action. The plan will help the North East LEP area raise its performance and drive growth. “

Working with its business, local authority and voluntary sector partners, the North East LEP will bring direction and focus on economic growth across County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear through implementing the Strategic Economic Plan.

Paul Woolston, chair of the North East LEP said: “This long-term economic plan is vital for continued growth and productivity in the North East LEP area. We are looking to strike a new relationship with Government, working together with it and our local business, higher and further education, voluntary and public sector partners to deliver real growth for the North East, and contribute to UK economic prosperity.

“The Adonis Review and our European Structural and Investment Funds strategy underline the importance of shifting the emphasis from the national to the local, and how all of our partners are committed to making this happen.

“We have a strong track record in designing and taking forward innovative initiatives such as the Skills Incentives Pilot, our £38m allocation for the North East Investment Fund and the success of the North East Enterprise Zone. There is a real desire across the LEP area’s businesses, education and public sectors to be innovative, ambitious and integrated in our work. Through the Local Growth Fund we will be able to deliver on the SEP’s aims effectively and as quickly as possible.”

The SEP proposes a number of initiatives to boost enterprise, skills and infrastructure. An Entrepreneurs First £30m competition and two £25m catalytic innovation competitions will be introduced and there will be up to 25% increased investment in finance for SMEs, including an expanded JEREMIE programme.

Given backing from the Department of Education a North East Schools Challenge will be launched, and a £160m investment by the North East LEP and government in high level skills development over the next six years. A separate £160m ‘Inclusive North East’ project by the North East LEP and government will aim to eliminate gender, race, age and cultural gaps in employment between the North East LEP area and national averages by 2025.

In infrastructure, an international advanced manufacturing park, built around the Nissan campus at Washington is planned, and investment programmes totalling £650 over the next ten years to the A1 and A19 trunk roads, the Ashington-Blyth-Tyne rail line and to the East Coast Main Line (Leamside Line).

The draft North East SEP plan states: “We must also protect and capitalise on our natural and built heritage, developing our tourism offer, providing housing that is fit for purpose and attracting and retaining talent. In this global environment, there is new thinking about how regions like the North East can become more competitive and prosperous, driving smart, sustainable and inclusive economic outcomes.”

Consultation closes on Tuesday 25 February. Following the consultation period, the strategy will be finalised and presented to government.

Category: Uncategorized

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North East Strategic Economic Plan to lead the way to growth