Have your say on the future of the Northern economy
POST-Brexit uncertainty and ministerial changes mean that now more than ever the voice of Northern business must be heard.
We do not yet know what impact a new Prime Minister and the loss of Northern Powerhouse champion George Osborne will mean to the Northern growth agenda.
Regardless, the fact remains that there needs to be a fundamental rebalancing of the UK’s economy.
The North of England has a GVA of £290bn – that needs to be boosted by £44bn so that it matches GVA across the rest of the country.
There has never been a road map from Government on the best way to breach this productivity gap – more a willingness to listen to those in local government about what their city region needs and, through devolution deals, to give over to local control greater decision making powers and budgetary control.
Devolution has given many city regions across the North the opportunity to take greater control of their purse strings and long-term strategy – others are still in negotiation..jpg?access=614T417T840){kind=logo}
The devolution deals that have already been struck are are enshrined in law but with the continued political will for the Northern growth agenda looking uncertain, now more than ever those businesses that will drive the growth must make their voices heard.
Transport and infrastructure improvements remain crucial to unlocking the North’s potential: greater connectivity means access to an enlarged talent pool, better logistics, and improved ease and speed of doing business.
Today, TheBusinessDesk.com and Eversheds is launching a new survey which could help to form the agenda for the new era.
We are asking our readers in both the North West and Yorkshire for your opinions on the issues that matter to your business and what needs to be done to help your business grow, improve productivity and create more investment and opportunity across the North of England.
This is your chance to tell us how the Northern growth agenda affects your business and what you need to grow and prosper.
The survey can be completed here
Once complete, we will gather the data and use the insight to highlight the issues you think should be the focus of the new set-up.
We will also be staging a series of round table discussion where business leaders and sector experts will debate the findings and deliver their verdict on how the new economic structure should look.
The details will then be published on our website and in a supplement in the autumn.
