Osborne chairs first Northern Powerhouse Partnership roundtable

FORMER Chancellor George Osborne hosts the first in a series of Northern Powerhouse Partnership roundtables today.

The partnership’s board also welcomes new business members from Siemens HSBC, EY, Addleshaw Goddard and Bruntwood.

NPP “evidence gathering” roundtables will take place across the North, with today’s in Manchester, chaired by Osborne.

The NPP is an independent not-for-profit partnership which launched in September 2016 with a business-led board, including representatives from Northern companies including Manchester Airports Group (MAG), Mace, Barclays and Associated British Ports. In addition, the Board also includes political representation from across the region.

The board companies have all agreed a financial contribution to the NPP and representatives from the businesses will be in attendance at the roundtables, with initial events scheduled to occur in 2016 in Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool, with more planned in 2017.

Osborne said: “Since the Northern Powerhouse Partnership was launched in September this year I have, frankly, been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response we have received from business and civic leaders right across the North. We’ve made more progress than I could have possibly hoped for.
 
“In the next two months, I’m going to set out, with the Partnership, to visit cities across the North – from Liverpool to Leeds, Newcastle to Sheffield and Manchester – to listen to businesses and local leaders. It’s just a start of the engagement with communities right across the region.

“Chairing this Partnership is now the major focus of my political energies. These roundtable events will enable the Northern Powerhouse Partnership to begin to develop a consensus across the North about the common ideas which we can work closely with national government on and improve the economy and quality of life for people in the North.
 
“I am also pleased to welcome the new members to our board. It’s a real vote of confidence in our Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

“These are not only major global businesses – they are some of the largest employers in the North and I feel confident that the expertise we have sat around the table will enable the NPP to promote some fresh and innovative thinking into issues that will really make a difference.”