The Convention of the North and NP11, in partnership with Government, today announces broadcaster Steph McGovern as host and the full programme for the one-day Northern event at Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on 13 September.
Steph, originally from Middlesbrough and now living in Manchester, is a highly respected and award-winning presenter, and former Young Engineer for Britain. She has reported on business and finance from around the world and is a mentor for young people in her native Teesside, regularly running workshops for schoolchildren around the North East.
The major Northern Powerhouse event is being delivered in partnership by the Convention of the North and NP11, the group of all 11 Northern Local Enterprise Partnership Chairs, with support from Government. It will bring together the North’s political, business, community and academic leaders, along with young people’s groups.
The event will be a working convention to debate policy across workshops which will address skills and education, housing, transport, innovation, trade and investment, and clean growth. Sessions throughout the day will be brought together into a powerful, unified case to the new Prime Minister and Government for tangible investment in the Northern Powerhouse, putting it at the top of the economic agenda, so that it can fulfil its potentially transformational role in the future of the UK.
Northern leaders speaking at the event will include Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis, Chair of the NP11 and of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of Convention of the North Cllr Nick Forbes, and Northern Powerhouse Minister, Rt Hon Jake Berry MP.
Welcoming the summit Asif Hamid MBE, Chair of Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership said:
“All NP11 leaders share a passion and determination to own our future and make the North a real powerhouse of the UK economy again. This summit is a fantastic opportunity that will bring together private and public partners from across the North to collectively further our aspirations and ambitions as well as our responsibilities for making the North great again.”
Steph McGovern, award-winning TV presenter, said:
“As a proud northerner I’m looking forward to hosting this event and hearing the proposals our northern leaders and the Government will bring to the table to ensure the North can stand on its own two feet and continue to prosper after Brexit.
“With thousands of fantastic businesses based here, the North is hugely important to the UK’s economy. This event is an important chance to attract much needed investment.”
Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council and chair of Convention for the North, said:
“Across the North people are set to come together to agree the steps we need to take to grow our economy and fulfil the North’s potential. From transport to climate change, skills to investment, we know the issues we need to address if we are to grow, and we know the benefits this can bring to the whole of the UK. This Convention of the North will give our regions a louder voice than ever before to secure this and prepare us for a period of great change in our country.
“I look forward to hearing views from across the north at the event and working with Government to secure a better future for the north.”
Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the NP11 and of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said:
“To deliver an economy that is future-proof, it’s a no brainer that the North should be front and centre of plans for the UK’s prosperity and competitiveness after Brexit. This event will be critical to realising the North’s true potential.
“Our region has major strengths in areas such as renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, tourism, logistics, professional services and higher education. Now is the time to maximise these strengths by increasing collaboration across the North so that it’s great towns, cities and rural communities can play a major role in a truly global UK.”
Northern Powerhouse Minister, Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, said:
“This summit will showcase the talent, ambition and pioneering spirit which sets the Northern Powerhouse apart.
“We’re already investing a record £13 billion to deliver better transport across the North, over £5 billion to boost jobs and growth, and our £400million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is supporting fantastic Northern companies to scale-up and grow.
“The Northern Powerhouse is delivering, but we have so much more to do.
“I look forward to hearing from the wide range of proud Northern voices at this landmark event as we come together to set out our plan to level up our regions and make the most of the opportunities Brexit will bring when we leave the EU on 31st October.”
The event will also bring together influential bodies such as the N8 research partnership, the People’s Powerhouse, Northern Power Women and leading think-tanks such as IPPR North and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, young people from across the North will set out their vision for the North’s future, and how current leaders need to work together to achieve it.
The event has been designed to be accessible and inclusive to the whole of the North and registration is now open. However, places are limited and demand is anticipated to be high. To register interest in attending, please email details at your earliest convenience to North@BeaconHouse-Events.co.uk
To see the full programme, click here.