The North is full of investment opportunities and world-class economic strengths. Accelerating progress and unleashing its full potential can rebalance the national economy and change the lives of the people who live and work here.

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Northern businesses have set out a 12-point Industrial Strategy which they believe will drive up productivity, unlock billions in private investment and improve the long-term economic environment.The Invest North report is a confident, pragmatic statement about the opportunities and investable propositions that are ready to be unlocked.

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The private sector-led initiative presents a strong and unified business voice that has engaged with Northern leaders and policymakers over several months. It also builds on work done previously, including the Convention of the North and the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review.The Invest North report sets out 12 policy recommendations, which focus on four prime capabilities of sectors that will drive prosperity – energy and net zero, manufacturing and materials, digital and culture, and health innovation – alongside cross-cutting proposals.It has honed in on measures that set the challenge that if both regional and national decision-makers undertake these certain specific industrial policy recommendations alongside greater access to private capital and key interventions to improve productivity, then that will improve the lives of those in our places, benefitting communities across the North of England.The report is being launched at an event in Parliament on Wednesday that will hear from Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, and shadow business minister Chi Onwurah MP.The Invest North project was established to bring together the voice of Northern businesses and direct it so that the opportunities and the needs could be better understood both within and beyond the region.It was led by Lloyds Bank, Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Phoenix Group, Squire Patton Boggs, and TheBusinessDesk.com.

From the outset the intention was to focus on Northern leaders and voices who knew the opportunities and challenges from unlocking investment best of all, and around 150 organisations contributed to the discussions which helped shape the report’s recommendations.Eleven round tables were held across the North of England, as the key issues facing businesses were explored at events in each Local Enterprise Partnership area.The round tables brought together the North’s political leaders, including metro mayors and council leaders - to political thinkers alongside senior economic and business participants from industry, property, investment and economic development, as well as the education and culture sectors.Alex Turner, joint managing director of TheBusinessDesk.com, said: “The recommendations from Invest North show businesses aren’t looking for handouts but for a handover of more powers to local leaders to enable responsive, timely and targeted action.“They want to be part of the solution, to work with metro-mayors and the public sector to collaboratively improve the economies and communities they work and live in.“The North is ready to unleash its ambition and confidence, to fully drive change to the benefit of the UK as a whole.”

Professor Juergen Maier, vice-chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership: “We wanted an honest, forward-looking conversation about the investment opportunities here in the Northern Powerhouse - to build on our strengths, define what we can do better, and make sure we are building a strong sustainable future economy.“There was a really strong sense from both business leaders and mayors that this should be a confident and positive exercise to develop our very own Northern Industrial Strategy, led by the North, for the North.“The ideas set out in this report are ambitious but achievable, private sector led, but and supported by local government central government.“Investors need certainty and that means moving towards delivering a long-term vision for the Northern economy, supported by ambitious local industrial strategies, and putting an end to short-term, short-sighted decisions.”

Prew Lumley, managing partner of Squire Patton Boggs in Leeds, said: “Through the Invest North project, we have had the opportunity to bring the voice of businesses in the North to Whitehall.“It has allowed us to share their views on policy reforms that will allow the North to deliver economic growth and increase its contribution to GVA. Businesses have called for changes at local government level to enable greater devolution of central budgets in order to stimulate investment and support a pipeline of talented and skilled individuals who can deliver for the future.“We share in their hopes that current and future governments realise and act on the need to prime the regions, facilitate access to private capital and rebalance the country. All of which is necessary to ensure that the North achieves its full potential.”

Mike Eakins, chief investment officer at Phoenix Group, said: “The Invest North project is an extremely important and necessary piece of work to bring to life the strengths and opportunities for the North of England.‘What we have seen in all our conversations over the last nine months is the abundance of opportunity in world-class sectors which will be the catalyst for growth in the future, giving the UK a strong platform to improve local areas, as well as export around the globe.“Phoenix is delighted to play our part in helping understand issues and unlocking investment. We have the ambition to invest up to £40bn in sustainable and productive assets to support economic growth, levelling-up and the climate change agenda, without compromising policyholder protection in any way.“This report helps us better understand how we support these agendas, and helps forge a path forward which will ultimately improve the compelling business case for investing in the North of England.”

Steve Harris, regional director, North of England at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “Lloyds Bank is delighted to support the release of the new report from Invest North. Unlocking the potential of the Northern economy, by shaping finance as a force for good, is at the core of our strategy and we’re pleased to have facilitated this important debate.”“Shaped by regional voices for local economies, the report makes an important and valued contribution to the ongoing debate on the economic future of the North. The recommendations show how regionally focused strategies and working in partnership can ensure the right solutions deliver the productivity gains to create sustainable, long-term growth.”“There is no quick fix to achieving this, but we hope the measures outlined, if undertaken, will unlock the North’s potential as the place for investment that will create more jobs and opportunities, and boost the wider UK economy”

Alex Turner, joint managing director of TheBusinessDesk.com, said: “The recommendations from Invest North show businesses aren’t looking for handouts but for a handover of more powers to local leaders to enable responsive, timely and targeted action.“They want to be part of the solution, to work with metro-mayors and the public sector to collaboratively improve the economies and communities they work and live in.“The North is ready to unleash its ambition and confidence, to fully drive change to the benefit of the UK as a whole.”

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WESTMINSTER

July 2023
The Palace of Westminster

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CHESHIRE & WARRINGTON

December 2022
Warrington Borough Council, 1 Time Square, Warrington

Our Cheshire and Warrington round table included a broad discussion on the county's economic prospects, focusing on energy and net zero; advanced manufacturing.The discussion addressed the "what's next?" question, to be forward looking, and focused on what the opportunities and obstacles are for the region's businesses and economy in the years ahead.

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HULL & East Yorkshire

November 2022
C4DI, 31-38 Queen Street, Hull

The Humber 2030 Vision estimates decarbonisation and net-zero production could unleash £15bn of private investment into the area.Humberside has access to 80% of the UK’s carbon storage. It has six offshore wind farms, including the world’s largest, hydrogen storage and numerous alternative energy plants operating or in development.But there are challenges to overcome to unlock Humberside’s full potential. TheBusinessDesk.com’s Invest North Hull round table brought local business leaders and experts together to explore what Hull and the Humber need to leap forward.

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Our Hull and Humber round table included a broad discussion on the county's economic prospects, focusing on transport and infrastructure; energy/net zero.The discussion addressed the "what's next?" question, and focused on what the opportunities and obstacles are for the region's businesses and economy in the years ahead.

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SOUTH YORKSHIRE

November 2022
Pennine Five Campus, 41 Silver Street Head, Sheffield City Centre

Our South Yorkshire roundtable included a broad discussion on the county's economic prospects, focusing on advanced manufacturing; digital and creative.The discussion addressed the "what's next?" question, and focused on what the opportunities and obstacles are for the region's businesses and economy in the years ahead.

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LIVERPOOL CITY REGION

December 2022
Novotel, 3 Paddington Village, Liverpool

There is a sense of ambition in the Liverpool City Region over its massive potential in new industries and ground-breaking technologies.A prestigious round-table of high profile business and public sector leaders spoke of their hopes for the region in the latest Invest North conference organised by TheBusinessDesk.com at the recently-opened Paddington Village Novotel in the heart of the city’s burgeoning Knowledge Quarter.John Leake, business growth director at Sci-Tech Daresbury, said: “There’s a focus around the areas of strength within the city region, whether that’s around infectious diseases, around materials development. investments at Sci-Tech Daresbury, around high performance computing and AI and quantum computing.

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NORTH OF TYNE

January 2023
Sage, C23 building, Cobalt Park, NE28 9EJ

Our North of Tyne round table included a broad discussion on the county's economic prospects, focusing on energy/net zero; digital and creative.The discussion addressed the "what's next?" question, was forward-looking, and focused on what the opportunities and obstacles are for the region's businesses and economy in the years ahead.

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TEES VALLEY

January 2023
CPI, Central Park, The Nigel Perry Building, 1 Union St, Darlington

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• 'Risk appetite remains a restriction on regional ambitions'

Our Tees Valley round table included a broad discussion on the county's economic prospects, focusing on health and life sciences; transport and infrastructure.The discussion addressed the "what's next?" question, was forward looking, and focused on what the opportunities and obstacles are for the region's businesses and economy in the years ahead.

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York & north yorkshire

February 2023
The Alternative Workplace, Richmond House, 4 St Mary’s Court, York

Our York and North Yorkshire round table included a broad discussion on the county's economic prospects, focusing on health and life sciences; energy and net zero.The discussion addressed the "what's next?" question, was forward looking, and focused on what the opportunities and obstacles are for the region's businesses and economy in the years ahead.

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• What must be done to create an innovation-friendly environment?

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west yorkshire

February 2023
Squire Patton Boggs, 6 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP

Our West Yorkshire round table included a broad discussion on the county's economic prospects, focusing on Fintech/financial services; digital and creative.The discussion addressed the "what's next?" question, was forward looking, and focused on what the opportunities and obstacles are for the region's businesses and economy in the years ahead.

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Lancashire

March 2023
Preston County Hall

Our Lancashire round table included a broad discussion on the county's economic prospects, with a focus on advanced manufacturing; digital and creative.The discussion addressed the "what's next?" question, was forward looking, and focused on what the opportunities and obstacles are for the region's businesses and economy in the years ahead.

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greater manchester

March 2023
Squire Patton Boggs, Manchester, M3 3EB

Our Greater Manchester round table included a broad discussion on the county's economic prospects, focusing on Fintech/financial services; transport and infrastructure.The discussion addressed the "what's next?" question, was forward-looking, and focused on what the opportunities and obstacles are for the region's businesses and economy in the years ahead.

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Cumbria

October 2022
North Lakes Hotel & Spa, Ullswater Rd, Penrith

BAE Systems and Sellafield are disproportionately big players in the Cumbrian labour market, responsible for employing one in 12 of the 240,000 people working in the county.But very large employers face a very large recruitment problem.“We’ve got 2,000 vacancies in Barrow and we need those people to stand still,” said Steve Cole, chief infrastructure officer and improvement director at BAE Systems’ Maritime and Land division.“That’s to meet the current commitments, let alone what we can do beyond that. And we’re very conscious that we make it hard for others.”

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The Cumbria round table included a broad discussion on the county's economic prospects, focused on advanced manufacturing and the energy/net zero sectors.The discussion addressed the "what's next?" question, and focused on what the opportunities and obstacles are for the region's businesses and economy in the years ahead.

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