Invest North recommendations welcomed by senior politicians
Sir Jake Berry said “the voice of business must come first” as he encouraged private sector leaders to help make the case for wider devolution across the North.
The founder of the Northern Research Group and former Northern Powerhouse minister was speaking at the Parliamentary launch of the Invest North report.
He welcomed the “hugely important work” of thought leadership coming from Northern businesses and organisations, which he said “is changing government policy now”.
The Invest North project was established to bring together the voice of Northern businesses and direct it so that the opportunities and the needs could be better understood both within and beyond the region.
It was led by TheBusinessDesk.com and supported by Lloyds Bank, Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Phoenix Group, and Squire Patton Boggs.
TheBusinessDesk.com’s Lee-J Walker with shadow business minister Chi Onwurah
From the outset the intention was to focus on Northern leaders and voices who knew the opportunities and challenges from unlocking investment best of all, and around 150 organisations contributed to the discussions which helped shape the report’s recommendations.
The Invest North report sets out 12 policy recommendations, which focus on four prime capabilities of sectors that will drive prosperity – energy and net zero, manufacturing and materials, digital and culture, and health innovation – alongside cross-cutting proposals.
Sir Jake Berry in conversation with Curveblock’s Gary Woodhead (right) at the Invest North report launch
Berry added: “My call, building on this brilliant report, would be for all of the businesses in the room to play your part, because there are far more businesses than there are politicians thankfully.
“But politicians cannot do on on their own. And across the house – Conservative, Labour, Liberal politicians – we are at one in terms of this ambition for the north of England.
“But our work here in Westminster is hugely empowered by working with and for businesses.
“Devolution everywhere for everyone is a key that will unlock the potential of the North. But it’s a key that we all hold: don’t just leave it to politics – the voice of business must come first.”
The event brought together dozens of Northern business leaders and Parliamentarians.
Levelling-Up minister Felicity Buchan speaking at the Invest North launch
Levelling-Up minister Felicity Buchan also encouraged businesses to make their voice heard in Westminster.
She said: “It isn’t only mayors who are empowered to make the case for change. All the other players and their teams, the local business leaders, those in education, also have the tools, the funds and the freedom to drive the region as an industrial and economic powerhouse.
“It is in the clear interests of the whole country that we have an even stronger north.
“The best people to get this done are the people who live and work in the north – leaders like you who can drive progress in the north.”
Shadow business minister Chi Onwurah said: “The report is a testament to the way we work, as you can see by the number of partners.
“Across the north, we work in partnership – and we have to work in partnership to get that concentration of ideas and investment and, to be honest, media coverage.
“But also it’s testament to the talent, ingenuity and immense potential of our region and I’m so pleased to see the report again identify the North’s strength and potential in tech, manufacturing, life sciences and green investment.”
Claire Spencer, Mae Salem, and Holly Atkinson from Squire Patton Boggs with John Stevenson MP
John Stevenson MP, chair of the Northern Research Group and the host of the Parliamentary reception, added: “The recommendations in your report, I think every single one of them is something we can get behind.
“I very much hope that your report does have good traction within government and within businesses as well across the north.
“We all recognise as northerners that we need to rebalance our country, we need to make sure that the North actually fulfils its potential and makes an invaluable contribution to our national economy.”
Visit investnorth.thebusinessdesk.com to find out more about the Invest North project.
