The Great North launched by northern mayors to boost jobs and prosperity
Northern mayors have launched a new partnership to boost jobs and prosperity.
The Great North has been unveiled at an event in Leeds, bringing together mayors and regional leaders to unlock the economic potential of the north in key sectors such as clean energy, defence, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries.
The new body is chaired by North East mayor Kim McGuinness and has been backed by the government, with deputy prime minister Angela Rayner endorsing the organisation.
It aims to lead international trade missions on pan-northern investment propositions and host a new Northern Investment Summit to champion the opportunities and potential of the north's 15 million people.
Opportunities identified by the mayors include an energy coast proposition down the east coast to power the clean energy revolution, a northern security corridor reaching down from Cumbria and the North East through Lancashire, and advanced materials and manufacturing corridors bringing together Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.
A new report by The Great North reveals that the north could add £118 billion to the UK economy with the right investments.
The initiative aims to provide the finance, skills and connectivity needed for the creative industries in the North to grow, draw international investment and tourism, and contribute to employment and economic development.
Cumbria does not currently have a mayor, but plans are underway for the county to have a mayoral election as early as next year following a public consultation.
READ MORE: Whitehaven woman attends garden party at Buckingham Palace | News and Star
Plans for a mayor in the county have been backed by deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner as part of the government's large scale devolution plan which could see major change to local government across the country.
Candidates have yet to be announced for the Cumbrian mayoral race but it is expected that all major parties will put forward a candidate.
Plans for a mayor will have to be ratified by both Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council in the autumn.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Update on bringing together four council payroll systems
STAFF at Cumberland Council were all paid through the same payroll system for the first time since the unitary authority was formed last month, councillors have heard. Members of the council's business and resources overview and scrutiny committee met at Allerdale House in Workington on get an update on staff sickness absences on Tuesday (June 3). Before she started her update Jacqui Green, assistant director of human resources and organisational development, told members of the progress made in unifying the authority's payroll system. The work is required because when it was formed as a new unitary authority it inherited four different payroll systems from the former Carlisle City, Allerdale, Copeland and Cumbria County councils. Relating to sickness absences Ms Green said there was a big focus on early intervention and staff wellbeing and the aim was to identify issues early on. According to her report there are still four separate sickness absence policies which managers must apply. The report states: 'The human resources and organisational development (HROD) team have engaged with managers and are currently working with the council's recognised trade unions to develop one policy to manage absences. 'It is expected that a new policy will be finalised in June 2025. This new approach will have a focus on prevention and wellbeing. 'This will support a reduction in the council sickness absence rate. The introduction of the policy will be facilitated by a mandatory programme of dedicated upskilling for managers to support them in their line management duties. Trade union colleagues will also be invited to attend the training.' When councillor David Moore (Gosforth, Conservative) asked if there was a timeline for bringing the policies together Ms Green assured him she was hopeful that it should be completed by the end of the month. It was recommended that the next report, which details further progress, is presented to the committee in six months' time which was agreed.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cumbria MP launches plan to deliver ‘thousands' of jobs
JOSH MacAlister, Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, has launched 'Get West Cumbria Growing' - a new industrial plan for West Cumbria which he says could deliver thousands of new jobs across the area and unlock land for new nuclear power generation. The plan is a more detailed version of one he published before the 2024 General Election which laid out his priorities if elected as the area's MP. Included are proposals to grow West Cumbria's nuclear industry by capitalising on the government's plan for plutonium disposition and unlocking land for new nuclear at Moorside. The plan also highlights the need to expand the Port of Workington to open up West Cumbria's economy to new markets and create further opportunities to diversify away from reliance on nuclear decommissioning whilst also supporting future work at Sellafield. Writing exclusively for The Whitehaven News this week, Mr MacAlister says the plan 'sets out a roadmap for a prosperous and diverse economy in West Cumbria'. Central to the plan is the case for unlocking land at Moorside, which has been the 'biggest barrier' to securing new nuclear power generation in West Cumbria since the collapse of the NuGen deal in 2018. According to Mr MacAlister, unlocking this land is 'absolutely critical' to West Cumbria's nuclear future. Mr MacAlister said: 'West Cumbria is the birthplace of the civil nuclear industry, representing the first clean energy revolution in the last century. It has a rich industrial heritage in mining and steel. 'Yet for all of our history, and our ongoing world leading work in nuclear decommissioning, there is huge untapped potential. There are many occasions when West Cumbria has been a pioneer community, and it should be again. That's why I have published this ambitious industrial plan to lay out the direction of travel to secure growth and jobs for our area. 'Central to this is unlocking land at Moorside where we could site small modular reactors and the industry they could power, which has been my top priority as your MP. I have spent endless hours over recent months making the case for this locally and nationally. 'I've held debates in Parliament, had more meetings with ministers on this than any other topic, and established the Cumberland Nuclear Future Board with Cumberland Council to bring together local partners united in our goal to secure our nuclear future. 'Once we have an agreement on use of the land we can motor ahead with attracting nuclear developers to the area, utilising the combination of a great plot of land, our existing nuclear industrial base, and a willing community. I'm doing everything I possibly can to get this over the line. 'I want to emphasise the partnership between me, Cumberland's other MPs, Cumberland Council, the NDA, Sellafield Ltd and unions representing our nuclear workforce who have been working closely together on this for many months. "Our community is clear; we want and deserve new nuclear.' Mr MacAlister is hosting a public meeting to launch his industrial plan and discuss his plan for new nuclear in West Cumbria on Thursday, June 26 at 6pm in Whitehaven. Anyone wishing to attend can sign up at or by calling his office on 01946 458023 and leaving your full name and address. Venue details will be provided following registration.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Metro line to be built as part of £1.85bn deal
A new Tyne and Wear Metro line will be built for the first time in 30 years, as part of a £1.85bn government investment. The money would help meet the cost of the route to Washington, Sunderland, with funds also expected to come from the private sector, the North East Combined Authority (NECA) said. It is hoped the new line, estimated to cost about £900m, will start running in 2033. Nexus, which operates the Metro system, said it was "a historic moment". "This project is going to be transformative for the people of Washington and our customers, opening a new Metro route corridor along the northern part of the former Leamside Line to one of our region's largest towns," said Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government would award £15.6bn in total to areas across the UK. A feasibility study into the new Metro route is already under way, alongside design work for the stations, bridges and other infrastructure. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said she secured the investment after raising it with Reeves. The money would also help create a so-called Angel Network, she said, a public transport system which would use contactless smart travel across buses, Metros and trains. "This is a game-changing moment for the people of our region, who can look forward to a truly world-class integrated public transport network, safer walking and cycling routes throughout our towns and cities, better local roads and a massive acceleration on our journey to an EV [electric vehicle] future," McGuinness said. The leader of Sunderland City Council, councillor Michael Mordey, called the announcement "great news" for Washington and the whole city. He said the new line would "transform public transport for people living in Washington" and help connect people to jobs at nearby Nissan and International Advanced Manufacturing Park. "We have waited a long time to see Metro reach Washington with a direct line from the city centre," Mordey added. The funding has been agreed as the latest phase of the region's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS2). It will cover the period from 2027 to 2032. The package would also fund highways maintenance, walking and cycling routes, hundreds of new EV charging points and new measures to make bus journey times more reliable, NECA said. Rachel Anderson, assistant director for policy at North East Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the investment. "Upgrading our local transport networks, including progress on the Washington Metro link, is vital to connecting people to opportunity and driving regional growth," she added. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. New Metro line feasibility study under way Mayor recommits to Metro extension plan North East Combined Authority Nexus
