Since the Northern Powerhouse agenda was launched, business, elected, and civic leaders from across the North have taken great strides towards creating a thriving Northern economy. Bringing many of these leaders together, the NP11 is the group of 11 Northern Local Enterprise Partnerships. We act as the collective interface between national Government and business in the North of England, driving prosperity and improving lives by working in partnership. We are investment focused, partnership driven, and business led.
In 20 years’ time, we want to be able to look back with pride on the results that the North has delivered. Working across the North, we have been working to create a bold vision, setting out the North’s distinct offer and ambitious ask, as we have set out on our website. Our ambitions include growth founded on innovation; a clean growth revolution; boosting trade and investment; and crucially, efficient transport that easily connects people to jobs and businesses with markets.
Central to our mission is connecting up the North so that it is greater than the sum of its parts. We know the North is hindered by poor transport links, and we simply can’t sit back and accept this. That is why we are delighted to be part of and working with Transport for the North, improving connectivity for people, goods and businesses. Improvements within the North, to other parts of the UK and internationally are all essential and must be delivered together if we are to realise the North’s full potential.
We stand foursquare behind Transport for the North to ensure we deliver the connectivity transformation required across the North. It is imperative that improving our connectivity should be a key priority to help the North reach its full potential. Transport for the North’s Strategic Transport Plan (STP) will support the rebalance of underinvestment and transform the lives of people in the North.
We now need national and Northern leaders to come together and deliver. This new year, let our resolution be to ensure that everyone who lives in our region has the promise of meaningful work and a good life, driven by a strong and sustainable economy.
Roger Marsh OBE, DL – Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Chair of the NP11
