Mayors launch innovation exchange to tackle health, skills and transport challenges

Seven of England’s elected mayors came to Sheffield to launch a Mayoral Innovation Exchange that is designed to enable innovation and share best practice between mayoral combined authorities.
Findings from the inaugural innovation exchange will influence the work of combined authorities across priorities including health, skills and transport, whilst also shaping the how Mayors collectively influence the Government around the devolution agenda.
The mayors are formalising more of their knowledge sharing as English devolution continues to spread. In May, there will be the first elections for mayors of Greater Lincolnshire, and Hull and East Yorkshire, following on from the additions last year of the East Midlands and York and North Yorkshire.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard welcomed his counterparts as the group focused on common issues including harnessing data to tackle common health challenges, procuring environmentally sustainable public transport fleets, and aligning local skills systems to support the delivery of critical infrastructure such as new housing.
Coppard said: “As Mayors we are already tackling some of the biggest issues that face our communities – whether that’s improving public transport, boosting skills and training locally or growing our economies. Mayors are making a difference and are here to stay.
“Now, as the number of Mayors and Combined Authorities across the country grows, we have the chance to tackle national challenges and help the whole country to thrive. The Mayoral Innovation Exchange gives us the opportunity to share the brilliant work we’re all doing in our regions – and also plan how we work together nationally, with Government, to renew our country.”
Northern mayors Andy Burnham, Tracy Brabin and Kim McGuinness were joined by their counterparts from the Midlands and Cambridgeshire, Richard Parker, Claire Ward and Dr Nik Johnson.
The first exchange event was hosted at Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and facilitated by PwC.