Northern Powerhouse ‘should be at forefront of new trade deal negotiations’

The Northern Powerhouse needs to be central to Government plans in shaping new trade deals following Brexit, according to council leaders and key decision makers across the North.  

Council and business leaders and industry experts throughout the region will take part in a variety of sessions on the first day of the UK Northern Powerhouse conference today (Tuesday, February 21), where they will discuss how the Northern Powerhouse can influence the economic and political landscape in the near future.

One of the key sessions scheduled on the first morning of the conference, taking place at Manchester Central today and tomorrow, will involve a panel of Northern city council chief executives, who will discuss the region’s role in a post-Brexit Britain.  

Ged Fitzgerald, chief executive, Liverpool City Council, said: “We have long been stating the case to Government on how effective the North is already and can be in the future in boosting the whole of the UK economy.  

“Our region is fertile ground for investors with incredible opportunities combined with world-leading capabilities, assets and talent. We are proving time and time again how global in outlook we are, teaming with innovative businesses, creative and talented people in good locations.

“Now at this incredibly important time when we are debating the future direction of the UK as a trading nation it is crucial that the North is involved in helping to set the agenda.  

“The Northern Powerhouse has to be able to help the government in international trade negotiations to ensure that the deal that the UK gets with the EU and the rest of the world will benefit the North too, it can’t just be about London and the South East.”

The panel also includes Sir Howard Bernstein, CEO, Manchester City Council; Pat Ritchie, CEO, Newcastle-upon-Tyne City Council; David Budd, chair, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Cllr Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council and John Mothersole, CEO, Sheffield City Council.

Dr Peter Simpson, director of the N8 Research Partnership, the collaboration of the eight most research intensive universities in the North of England, is part of a high-level panel debating the strength and potential of Northern England’s competitiveness and productivity.

He says that implementing the Northern Powerhouse agenda can enable universities to generate even more benefit to the Northern and wider UK economy. He said: “Such benefit can only come, however, if there is strategic investment in the North – particularly in infrastructure and in innovation.
 
“Deeper partnerships between cities and universities can provide a clear voice of leadership and ideas, to create a high-skill, innovation-driven future. I believe and expect the N8 universities, working individually and together, to be at the forefront of delivering a rejuvenated Northern economy.”

Government regeneration advisor and independent chair of the Northern Gateway Development Zone, Jackie Sadek, believes that the scope of debate at the conference is timely: “This important conference is well placed to help inform and influence the on-going Brexit debate.

“Northern voices from both the public and private sector need to be heard because economic growth and wealth creation across the 11 LEP areas which define the Northern Powerhouse, and the wellbeing of their communities, are essential to the nation’s economic future.”

The conference is expected to attract more than 3,000 delegates over the two days.

The UK Northern Powerhouse Conference and Exhibition is a private company and not part of the UK Government.