Introducing our Strategy, Policy and Analysis programme

Richard Baker

The North East Strategic Economic Plan is based on strong evidence to ensure the interventions delivered are knowledge-based and as effective as possible.

The North East LEP takes a lead role in helping develop and co-ordinate economic strategy processes, public policy and strategy projects, and analysis and evidence activities on behalf of the region.

The Strategy, Policy and Analysis Team is at the heart of this work. Our ambition is that the North East is recognised for innovative, collaborative and action-oriented evidence-based economic policy and strategy.

Richard Baker
Strategy, Policy and Analysis Director

Meet the Strategy, Policy and Analysis team

Priorities of the Strategy, Policy and Analysis team


Building and encouraging the use of the evidence base:

‘Our Economy’ provides an overview of the North East LEP area economy and how it is changing over time. It is a resource for partners, positioning the North East for future policy developments. We published the first ‘Our Economy’ in March 2018 and continue to publish on an annual basis.

Read the latest Our Economy

The Data Hub is a website that brings together economic and transport data from a range of sources, alongside easy-to-use tools and commentary to improve understanding of the North East. We continue to develop the breadth and depth of the data available and are introducing additional tools to help users understand and make use of the data.

Visit the North East Data Hub

The North East Economic Evidence Forum, established by the North East LEP, brings together regional partners and national research organisations to build the North East economic evidence base. The group delivers a collaborative programme of research and engagement activities to contribute to regional and national debates on key topics and supports the LEP in its critical analysis of the North East evidence base. We continue to use the Forum to ensure we have the evidence that the North East needs to inform policies and investment.

For more information contact [email protected].

A substantial programme of research underpins our strategic roles in the region and our programmes of delivery. We work in partnership to commission and deliver a wide range of studies. In 2020-21 we oversaw commissioning and completion of projects to the value of £400,000. To view commissioned work, please visit our research and publications page on the North East Data Hub.

For more information contact [email protected].

Our Economy and the North East Data Hub increase understanding of the North East economy and support individuals, businesses and policymakers to make more informed decisions. We are working with partners to identify new sources of data and methods for analysis to help increase understanding of how the economy is performing.

For more information contact [email protected].


Coordinating corporate strategy development:

The Strategy Policy and Analysis team lead the coordination of the development on the North East Strategic Economic Plan. The current version of the Plan details projects and initiatives that will be delivered by the end of 2021. The team have also led the development of strategy projects supporting aspects of the plan, which in 2020-21 included the North East Health and Life Sciences strategy and the North East Freeport bid.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the biggest economic shock of our lifetimes, with no straightforward recovery.

To address this, the North East COVID-19 Economic Response Group was convened, made up of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), CBI, North of Tyne and North East Combined Authorities with the support of industry, to ensure the North East has strong economic leadership that acts quickly and collaboratively to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.

Find out more here.

The North East LEP works with government to develop place-based strategies. We have co-ordinated work in the region to develop the draft North East Local Industrial Strategy and will play a leading role responding to the strategies outlined in government’s Plan for Growth.

For more information contact [email protected].


Leading and supporting on regional strategy and policy projects:

We continue to coordinate and support the North East EU Exit Implementation Group, bringing together regional cross-sector partners to monitor the impact of the Trade & Co-operation Agreement on the North East economy, explore new opportunities emerging from post-EU Exit domestic policy, develop policy responses reflecting the priorities of the region, and share knowledge to inform the Growth Hub’s support offer for businesses.

Working with partners on the Implementation Group we have agreed a regional statement of key messages and published a range of responses to Government policy processes, including evidence about the impact of EU Exit on our sectors and labour market. this is available to read here.

For more information contact [email protected].

Businesses can find out more information about EU Transition on the North East Growth Hub.

The North East LEP has taken the opportunity of working with the Department for International Trade and the North East England Chamber of Commerce to develop a regional trade and export report as part of a wider Northern Powerhouse programme across the 11 Northern LEP areas. The North East LEP will work with partners on the implementation of the report and its recommendations, and the development of a supporting evidence base as the Government brings forward a trade and export strategy in the Autumn of 2021.

For more information contact [email protected].

Read the Global North East: Driving growth in North East trade and exports: Executive summary.

Read the Global North East: Driving growth in North East trade and exports report in full.

We work collaboratively with Northern Powerhouse partners as a leading participant in the NP11. You can find out more about the work of the NP11 here.

Partners across the North East are committed to responding to climate change and accelerating the region’s contribution to achieving Net Zero. Our Energy for Growth programme is the focus for action to drive renewable energy generation, and the decarbonisation of heat working through the North East and Yorkshire Local Energy Hub.

We are working with partners across the region to develop Net Zero North East to amplify collaboration across our region.

For more information contact [email protected].