September 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference focuses on the future for the Northern Powerhouse - as the Government reemphasises the importance of its levelling up agenda and infrastructure development as part of the economic recovery from COVID-19.
The discussion at a glance:
- delivery of local industrial strategies
- infrastructure and funding for the region
- developing skills and R&D capability
- environmental policy
- economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
The discussion in detail:
Delivery of local industrial strategies (LIS)
- coordination - linking the range of regional economic priorities across the North and supporting balanced economic growth
- collaboration - building the working relationships with neighbouring regions, such as North Wales and the Midlands
- the West Yorkshire devolution deal - next steps moving forward
Funding for the region
- COVID-19 - supporting economic recovery for businesses and individuals as part of the pandemic response
- the UK Shared Prosperity Fund - priorities for the North
- Town Deals - regeneration and maximising benefit for communities selected as part of the Towns Fund
- inward investment - strategies for attracting wider backing from investors, businesses and others
Developing skills and R&D capability in the North
- deepening partnerships - strategies for promoting joint working between universities and industry
- skills alignment - linking the delivery of education and training with what businesses need
Environmental policy
- the North of England and net zero - the role of the region in the national move to bear down on carbon emissions and improve natural capital
- NP11 - next steps for the group of 11 of the region's LEPs, covering 76 local authorities, following their Northern Powerhouse: Energy and Clean Growth report outlining the potential for reducing the region’s carbon emissions by 50% against 2005 levels by 2032
Infrastructure priorities:
- Transport:
- HS2 - its impact on Northern connectivity following the Oakervee Review and government commitments to delivering Phase 2b in full
- implementation priorities - implementing phase 2b and Northern Powerhouse Rail
- new transport plans - for mayoral authorities
- arrangements for running the North’s rail services, the future for Northern Rail, and priorities for reopening lines
- Housing:
- the construction corridor - plans to make the North of England a world leader in Modern Methods of Construction and develop environmental-friendly hjousing between Leeds and Liverpool
- impact of national housing policy on new developments - including MHCLG’s plans to introduce a new National Model Design Code and extend the Affordable Homes Programme
- Digital:
- improving connectivity - priorities for expanding mobile coverage, the roll out of full-fibre broadband, and tackling the digital divide as more and more people work from home and remotely
- 5G - looking ahead as government outlines more support for the 5G testbed programme, and as Liverpool 5G testbed continues its work aimed at reducing the digital divide
Why this is relevant to discuss now - the context:
- new policies impacting the North - developments in devolution and mayoral authorities, research and development, affordable housing and digital infrastructure
- a new Northern Powerhouse growth board - to support the Government’s levelling up agenda
- economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19
- the Northern Powerhouse Partnership five point plan for government support, prioritising:
- training - for those who have lost their jobs or left school
- extra teaching - for children who have fallen behind during the crisis
- employment - support for the growth of green energy jobs
- infrastructure - transport and digital infrastructure projects
- the Post-Pandemic Economic Growth super-inquiry by the BEIS Committee - examining the Government’s levelling up agenda and identifying what reformative measures are required at the local, regional and national level to help businesses and the economy thrive in the future
- Funding:
- Supporting Bus and Light Rail Services - part of the government programme for the region’s response to COVID-19, aimed at protecting and increasing transport services
- the UK Shared Prosperity Fund - designed to replace EU Structural Funding as a tool to reduce regional inequalities; supporting collaboration between neighbouring regions
- Town Deals - with 45 places in the Northern Powerhouse named as named as beneficiaries, each allowed to bid for £25m funding
- the West Yorkshire devolution deal - to include a metro mayor, £1.1bn for investment over the next 30 years, and increased control over local services
- the South Yorkshire devolution deal - being set for approval in Parliament, with the region due to receive £900m in investment over the next 30 years and the metro mayor being granted new powers of control over transport, strategic planning and skills
- levelling up research and development - with a government commitment of an extra £22bn in this area by 2024/2025
- Transport:
- coordination - a new Northern Transport Acceleration Council to improve communication between local government in the North and ministers
- trunk roads - details of major upgrades and the preferred route for the £1bn A66 Northern Trans-Pennine scheme released by Highways England following public consultation
- rail:
- Trans Pennine - the Transport Secretary announcing £589m for the main line between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester
- digitisation - the East Coast Main Line announced as the first rail link to use digital systems in place of conventional signalling following a £350m investment from DfT
- future needs - the National Infrastructure Commission’s Rail Needs Assessment examining HS2 integration with other rail investments in the North such as Northern Powerhouse Rail
- connectivity - government funding to develop proposals to reopen rail lines that were closed as part of the Beeching cuts
The agenda:
- Strategic priorities for the Northern Powerhouse and its role in economic recovery from the pandemic
- Delivering balanced economic growth across the Powerhouse - supporting communities, key sectors, and individuals, and attracting businesses and investment:
- Balancing regional economic priorities, attracting investment, and implementing Local Industrial Strategies
- Tackling the productivity gap, developing skills, harnessing new technology, and utilising growing opportunities for business
- Strategies for establishing world-leading R&D facilities across the Powerhouse
- Achieving success across the Powerhouse in progress towards net-zero emissions and priorities for improving natural capital
- Next steps for infrastructure development in the North - connectivity, value for money, and maximising the economic impact:
- Future housing developments and creating a construction corridor
- The future for rail infrastructure in the region - building trust in the network, linking with active travel schemes, and moving forward with Northern Powerhouse Rail
- Priorities for HS2 - policy certainty, cost-efficient services, engaging with communities, and contribution to economic growth
- Expanding digital infrastructure to support a change in working patterns and behaviour, improving the quality of service, and accelerating 5G rollout
- Priorities for the Northern Powerhouse moving forward
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.
It is certainly the case with this conference. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group and the House of Commons, and officials from BEIS; MHCLG; the Cabinet Office; the Department for Transport; Homes England; the Office of Rail and Road; the National Infrastructure Commission; the DCMS; the Department for International Trade; the DHSC; the DWP; the Education and Skills Funding Agency; the Health & Safety Executive; Industrial Strategy Council; the Government Legal Department; the National Audit Office; the Office for Product Safety and Standards and the Welsh Government.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
