Metro-mayors showcase their ‘shared commitment’ to improving business environment in Yorkshire

Yorkshire’s two metro-mayors Tracy Brabin and Oliver Coppard shared a platform at the Business of Yorkshire Conference to demonstrate their joined-up commitment to helping create the conditions for companies to thrive.

They opened the one-day conference to a packed audience in Leeds, which was focused on Place, Prosperity and Productivity. The conference was organised by TheBusinessDesk.com in partnership with Knights and Lloyds Bank.

Oliver Coppard

South Yorkshire metro-mayor Oliver Coppard said: “The fact that both of us are sharing a platform today is a sign of our shared commitment to making Yorkshire the best place in the whole country to to start up, scale up and invest. More than ever, I believe that in South Yorkshire, there is a real spirit of optimism once again.

“The economic tide will turn, as we return to a more stable macroeconomy and credit conditions begin to ease. Even as businesses have had to cut back on long-term planning and investment, their awareness of its importance has surged.”

“We know what we need to do to get Yorkshire on the front foot for long-term growth. As we find more certainty, we can begin turning our mind to the future.

“You will have a partner in me in South Yorkshire, I know you will have a partner in Tracy in West Yorkshire. Together we can chart our own course and coordinate our own investments for long-term growth across the whole of Yorkshire.”

Tracy Brabin

West Yorkshire metro-mayor Tracy Brabin referenced the u-turn on plans for rail station ticket office closures, as the most recent example of co-ordinated pressure from metro-mayors.

She said: “That understanding isn’t just about transport or how to get about, it’s also about how our regions function – what our businesses need to succeed, what our communities need to thrive.

“It’s impossible for policymakers sat in Whitehall and Westminster to get this right because they’re just too distant from what’s happening on the ground.

“That’s why devolution is really important. We can make better decisions more quickly, that are in the best interest of our local economies and our communities. I have a vision for a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all and successful businesses must be at the heart of that vision.”

The Business of Yorkshire Conference heard from a great line-up of speakers, providing analysis and challenges to the large audience of business leaders. TheBusinessDesk.com will be sharing the highlights from the Conference over the coming days.