Northern Powerhouse is key to international success, says Lord Mayor of London

“THE Northern Powerhouse means different things to different people,” said the Lord Mayor of London on his visit to Leeds today, “but it means something in London and abroad.”

During his fact-finding mission to the North, the Lord Mayor Alderman Jeffrey Mountevans stopped off at PwC’s offices in Leeds where he emphasised the need for close connections between the growing North and the City.

At the event, organised by Leeds Chamber, part of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, he said that there are 2.2 million people employed in the professional and financial services in the UK and “we have a thriving centre for FPS in Leeds. The city already works well with London – it keeps us on our toes,” he said.

He said that although we don’t have a perfect definition of the Northern Powerhouse, it has resonance internationally.

“I am in favour of greater devolution for the North, and there is a strong city locus which greater connectivity, in terms of transport and telecoms, would help. A lot of business might be done in London as an international hub, but it is enacted in the regions,” he said.

The Lord Mayor said we were still “mulling the consequences” of the Brexit decision, but that a “healthy dialogue” between central government and the regions would help. He said that the City has three priorities: access to single market; European and global labour, and passporting.

“I’ve detected in the UK, in London and Leeds, an electric charge since the Brexit. After all we are Brits, so we will make a success of it,” he said.

Also at the event were representatives Rashik Parmar of IBM, and Dr Chris Seir of FinExus, a visiting professor at Newcastle University.

Mr Parmar spoke to theBusinessDesk.com after the event, saying: “A smart city isn’t an end point, it’s a journey using data to improve the lives of individuals.”

He noted the Leeds Data Mill and the ODi bring different types of data to innovators.

The intention behind smart cities is the use of blockchain (a distributed database of continually growing list of data records, secured from tampering) to develop processes expanding these uses.

“Think of everything as having a digital shadow,” Mr Parmar said, that could be applied to everything from social care to the food supply chain.

The growth of the data sector in Leeds has seen plans announced for a 50,000 sq ft data laboratory testing this early stage digital identity technology at the White Rose Business Park.

Dr Seir said: “London drives the UK economy and we mustn’t destabilise but compliment it. Leeds is safer and cheaper. It has all we need for the laboratory; the skills, infrastructure as well as the fintech, healthtech and government service industries [which includes Smart Cities]. London is expensive and crowded, the support structures for this technology need to be out of London.”

Gerald Jennings, president of Leeds Chamber said: “Leeds has long been known as a strong city for financial, legal and banking services, but it is increasingly being viewed as one of the key UK technology and digital centres and a place where innovation happens. With the increasing convergence of these sectors Leeds is one of the driving forces behind the ‘Smart Cities’ and ‘FinTech’ agenda. Connections to the City of London are vital if we are to maximise the economic benefits from these new technologies and we are very pleased the Lord Mayor is able to meet some of the people behind this activity.”

 

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