Top speakers at Power of the North event
The themes of partnership and devolution were top of the agenda at an event organised by TheBusinesDesk.com.
The Power of the North breakfast was organised as part of the State of the Region campaign which was organised by TheBusinessDesk.com in partnership with law firm Squire Patton Boggs and KPMG.
Speakers at the gathering included Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry, Chris Oglesby the chief executive of property firm Bruntwood and Nicola Quayle the senior partner of KPMG in the North West.
Around 100 guests attended the event which was held in the offices of Squire Patton Boggs in Spinningfields.
Jake Berry was the first to speak and he talked about the importance of working together with Manchester and Liverpool’s elected mayors.
He said: “I feel that for the first time in my life that the North is being taken very seriously by the Government.
“The Prime Minister has said that the Northern Powerhouse is one of her top priorities.”
The Power of the North seminar held at Squire Patton Boggs in Manchester
Jake Berry added that there are a number of issues that need to be addressed including a sub-standard transport system and improved links from east to west.
He added: “The problem has built up over decades and it will take decades to tackle the problem.”
Mr Berry then went on to talk about devolution.
He said: “This is the first government for over 100 years to take power and influence from the South and return it to the North.”
He also spoke about the need to work with the region’s elected mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram.
He said: “There is no doubt that Andy Burnham has put this region on the map. There is nothing wrong with being critical friends. The important thing is that we work together.”
Chris Oglesby also talked about the power and influence the Greater Manchester now has on the global stage.
He said: “There is a handful of regions in Europe which has the same concentration of cities as the North West.
“When it comes to the region we have never felt more confident and optimistic about the future.”
