“It’s a really exciting and unique opportunity, but sadly an opportunity in devastating times”

It’s almost 12 months since the historic announcement by the Chancellor that West Yorkshire had achieved devolution. Now as polling day approaches – 6 May – TheBusinessDesk.com caught up with Labour mayoral candidate, current Shadow Minister for Cultural Industries and MP for Batley and Spen, Tracy Brabin, to discuss the importance of the role post-Covid, what economic opportunities she sees for the region and the what it means to potentially become the first female metro mayor.

“It’s a really exciting and unique opportunity, but sadly an opportunity in devastating times” Brabin starts. I’m sure the leaders and those working so hard towards a devo deal, what they were contemplating when they got it over the line was not this devastation that faces us.”

She’s certainly right when you spoke to the council leaders, officers and chief executives after that announcement in March it felt like a marathon had ended, and considering it had taken over five-years to reach this settlement the analogy might be correct. But within weeks of the announcement the country was plunged into what became the first national lockdown.

She adds that in the wake of the pandemic and with the economy having shrunk by 11% the exciting plans that were front and centre in March 2020 will have to be tempered. The reason, because there is “a greater priority, which is a fair and just economic recovery from Covid”.

However, Brabin is clear that focusing on economic recovery does not mean going back to how things were.

“This is an opportunity to reset the dial but also to be brave and to be bold in what we want for West Yorkshire because surely if devolution means anything it means bringing the power and the agency over your life closer to home with the money and support to do that.”

As the conversation moves to the opportunities it’s clear that Brabin believes the recently announced transport plans for the region are key.

“That mass transit scheme absolutely [we’ve] got to have that [and that] integrated transport network, are both part of our rebuilding back better because you can’t have a just recovery if people can’t get from towns and villages into cities.”

The idea of a “just recovery” is one the former actress and screenwriter continues to come back to throughout the conversation. She believes the green agenda is crucial to that concept. She adds that part of her strategy working alongside leaders, experts and stakeholders will be to develop “strategic planning” going forward and to get as many “shovel ready projects up and running” as quickly possible. All while ensuring government delivers the money needed by the region for its “economic recovery”.

Aside from money what else does the economic recovery need? Well Brabin is clear that one of the big opportunities for the region is within the skills agenda. As we talk she cites the “the future is digital”, but more than that she explains there are opportunities to grow and expand the sector.

“When you think about the gaming sector in Leeds, it employs 700 people and contributes £50m in GVA to our economy” she explains. Before outlining it is her ambition to bring an offshoot of Ada – the National College of Digital Skills (named after Ada Lovelace a 19th century British computing pioneer), to West Yorkshire, citing the first “hub” had already launched in Manchester.

She adds that having such an institution in the region which focuses on providing its students with the knowledge and experience in areas such as computer programming would help “future proof West Yorkshire” as those skills are needed in all areas of the modern economy.

The MP for Batley and Spen who has been in post for five years also highlighted that levelling up is not just North South, it’s about levelling up the opportunities for our cities and our towns.

“The devo deal isn’t just about us going to government and asking for money, we have to be sustainable in ourselves and we have to have a vibrant economic model that draws businesses to us and gets us in a position where government wants to invest in us because they get rewards for doing so.”

So, what are the economic opportunities that she sees for the region’s towns and cities beyond digital? She talks of key pillars referencing innovative manufacturing and R&D, an area she says the region’s universities will be key to; health and wellbeing, citing the existing strengths in the region for research and health tech. However having looked at her CV, it’s no surprise she sees the creative sector as another key pillar to recovery.

Channel 4’s relocation to Leeds made a statement, Brabin explains. Although she highlights the sector goes beyond that one marquee name, mentioning the success of Rollem Productions, TrueNorth and obviously ITV. Adding that organisations and spaces such as Production Park are “fantastic” and show how you can provide training for young people that leads to careers and attracts wider inward investment.

But, and this would be where the dramatic music enters, her fear is that the pandemic could thwart the growth already seen. Brabin explains that due to the lack of support for the freelance and self- employed community which includes many in the creative sector, she’s “very, very worried we’re going to lose all those working-class voices”.

Which is where she says the just recovery must also be a creative one.

“This isn’t about theatre and jazz hands, this is actually fundamental, it’s about jobs, opportunities, training and regeneration.”

It’s clear that Brabin has a soft spot for the creative sector but also she understands the wider impact it can have, as she states “look at what happened in Halifax”, referencing the impact that filming for Gentleman Jack and Last Tango in Halifax amongst others had on the local economy – both from the people there during production but also the fans who fuel the visitor economy long after the director yells cut.

She also believes from her experience within the sector and working as Shadow Minister for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and lately the Shadow Minister for Cultural Industries there are opportunities for the region.

“We need a film studio of the North, there’s going to be one and I want it to be in West Yorkshire.” She adds that with the right vision, right package and right connections it is all possible and that will “draw in international investment”.

As the conversation draws to a close and we talk about what it could mean to be mayor Brabin states:

“I think there is something important about being the first woman metro mayor. There is something hopefully quite exciting business women and the female workforce, about having the first female mayor to make the case for greater equality with regards to [topics like] childcare and closing the gender pay gap.”

It’s clear that Brabin is passionate about what she hopes can be achieved by the West Yorkshire Mayor following the election and that despite the ongoing and uncertain future impact of the pandemic she remains positive about making West Yorkshire a successful, sustainable economic contributor.