Transcript - Economic-policy in 30 Priorities for regional and national growth 00:00:17.266 --> 00:00:18.468 Good morning and welcome 00:00:18.507 --> 00:00:19.669 everyone to the third 00:00:19.708 --> 00:00:20.649 installment of STEER's 00:00:20.748 --> 00:00:21.969 election reflection series. 00:00:22.670 --> 00:00:23.550 We're bringing together 00:00:23.830 --> 00:00:24.972 industry experts for 30 00:00:24.972 --> 00:00:26.332 minute conversations on the 00:00:26.393 --> 00:00:27.452 impact of Labour's agenda 00:00:27.492 --> 00:00:28.693 across local economies, 00:00:29.294 --> 00:00:30.375 transport and infrastructure. 00:00:31.435 --> 00:00:32.216 My name is Josh Stott. 00:00:32.356 --> 00:00:33.216 I'm a director at STEER 00:00:33.256 --> 00:00:34.057 Economic Development. 00:00:34.497 --> 00:00:35.597 We focus on the role 00:00:35.618 --> 00:00:36.558 economic development can 00:00:36.598 --> 00:00:38.920 play in catalysing innovation and growth, 00:00:39.561 --> 00:00:40.240 reducing spatial 00:00:40.261 --> 00:00:41.881 inequalities and achieving 00:00:41.921 --> 00:00:42.762 net zero ambitions. 00:00:43.756 --> 00:00:44.718 So thank you all for joining 00:00:44.777 --> 00:00:45.597 us today for this 00:00:45.618 --> 00:00:47.259 conversation about what the 00:00:47.298 --> 00:00:49.100 Labour government means in 00:00:49.140 --> 00:00:50.740 terms of economic policy for the country, 00:00:51.581 --> 00:00:52.421 and in particular for the 00:00:52.462 --> 00:00:53.042 north of England. 00:00:53.883 --> 00:00:55.082 I'm absolutely delighted to 00:00:55.103 --> 00:00:57.645 be joined by Claire Hayward, MBE. 00:00:57.765 --> 00:00:59.545 Before I introduce Claire properly, 00:00:59.725 --> 00:01:00.185 I'm just going to do a 00:01:00.206 --> 00:01:01.186 little bit of housekeeping. 00:01:02.548 --> 00:01:02.987 Firstly, 00:01:03.247 --> 00:01:04.668 please note that you'll be able to 00:01:04.748 --> 00:01:06.370 find subtitled recordings 00:01:07.025 --> 00:01:08.546 of this session and all our 00:01:08.585 --> 00:01:10.225 sessions on our website at 00:01:10.385 --> 00:01:11.606 speargroup.com. 00:01:12.466 --> 00:01:14.128 And as we're talking, 00:01:14.268 --> 00:01:15.147 you'll be able to use the 00:01:15.168 --> 00:01:17.269 comments section to share your views. 00:01:17.429 --> 00:01:18.810 But given the condensed 00:01:18.849 --> 00:01:20.069 nature of the session, 00:01:20.989 --> 00:01:22.331 we're not going to be responding live, 00:01:22.430 --> 00:01:23.370 but we will review and 00:01:23.411 --> 00:01:26.152 feedback on these after the event. 00:01:26.492 --> 00:01:28.412 So back to Claire. 00:01:28.492 --> 00:01:29.694 She brings over 30 years of 00:01:30.513 --> 00:01:31.554 global business leadership 00:01:31.593 --> 00:01:32.754 experience to the table. 00:01:33.492 --> 00:01:34.793 Most notably for this discussion, 00:01:34.853 --> 00:01:36.295 she's the chair of NP11, 00:01:36.575 --> 00:01:38.236 an organisation that brings 00:01:38.277 --> 00:01:39.677 together the 11 Northern 00:01:39.858 --> 00:01:41.078 Local Enterprise Partnerships. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:43.882 Other CV highlights include 00:01:44.042 --> 00:01:45.483 her being an independent 00:01:45.522 --> 00:01:48.125 non-exec director for United Utilities. 00:01:48.906 --> 00:01:50.826 And she's also a champion advocate, 00:01:51.007 --> 00:01:52.147 investor and advisor to a 00:01:52.209 --> 00:01:53.750 portfolio of SME businesses 00:01:54.430 --> 00:01:55.490 focused on sustainability 00:01:55.510 --> 00:01:57.132 solutions and female ownership. 00:01:57.673 --> 00:01:59.254 So a huge welcome to you, Claire. 00:01:59.293 --> 00:02:00.375 Thanks so much for joining us. 00:02:01.176 --> 00:02:01.635 That's all right. 00:02:01.656 --> 00:02:02.316 Good to see you, Josh. 00:02:03.686 --> 00:02:04.746 I'm just going to set out 00:02:04.766 --> 00:02:06.046 three points just very briefly, 00:02:06.066 --> 00:02:06.847 just to kind of 00:02:06.867 --> 00:02:08.489 contextualise the discussion. 00:02:09.989 --> 00:02:11.090 Firstly, you know, 00:02:11.129 --> 00:02:11.870 as we know from the King's 00:02:11.909 --> 00:02:13.950 Speech manifesto and I 00:02:14.070 --> 00:02:15.671 guess all of the discussion 00:02:15.692 --> 00:02:16.932 coming out of the 00:02:16.973 --> 00:02:17.712 government at the moment, 00:02:18.133 --> 00:02:20.694 the number one priority is 00:02:20.715 --> 00:02:21.655 around economic growth and 00:02:21.694 --> 00:02:22.855 kick-starting economic growth. 00:02:24.796 --> 00:02:25.657 The details of how to go 00:02:25.697 --> 00:02:26.957 about this are still emerging, 00:02:27.078 --> 00:02:28.058 but there's been a kind of 00:02:28.079 --> 00:02:28.979 clear signalling of a more 00:02:29.019 --> 00:02:30.479 interventionist approach in terms of 00:02:31.187 --> 00:02:32.487 National Industrial Strategy, 00:02:32.508 --> 00:02:33.948 National Infrastructure Strategy, 00:02:34.768 --> 00:02:35.868 Great British Railways, 00:02:35.929 --> 00:02:36.808 Great British Energy, 00:02:37.370 --> 00:02:38.449 National Wealth Fund, 00:02:38.550 --> 00:02:39.430 a kind of package of 00:02:40.950 --> 00:02:41.971 flagship initiatives. 00:02:43.132 --> 00:02:43.972 Alongside that, 00:02:44.211 --> 00:02:45.073 Keir Starmer has also 00:02:45.133 --> 00:02:46.953 talked about full fat devolution, 00:02:47.834 --> 00:02:49.834 so a commitment to deeper 00:02:49.955 --> 00:02:50.875 and wider devolution. 00:02:51.737 --> 00:02:54.161 um the mayors convened uh in 00:02:54.181 --> 00:02:56.323 the early days um back in 00:02:56.342 --> 00:02:57.424 the first few days of the 00:02:57.463 --> 00:03:00.326 month at number 10 um and 00:03:00.387 --> 00:03:01.508 all areas have been invited 00:03:01.548 --> 00:03:03.550 to submit proposals for uh 00:03:03.610 --> 00:03:04.730 deeper and other deep 00:03:04.770 --> 00:03:07.614 pollution and then thirdly 00:03:07.973 --> 00:03:09.276 in terms of leveling up agenda 00:03:11.454 --> 00:03:12.753 The title may have gone from 00:03:13.234 --> 00:03:13.794 the department, 00:03:14.935 --> 00:03:16.455 but the imperative for 00:03:17.094 --> 00:03:17.794 reducing regional 00:03:17.814 --> 00:03:19.015 inequalities and really 00:03:19.036 --> 00:03:20.876 driving up investment and 00:03:21.175 --> 00:03:22.436 productivity outside of 00:03:22.496 --> 00:03:23.377 London and the Southeast 00:03:23.977 --> 00:03:25.236 remains as important as ever. 00:03:26.197 --> 00:03:27.557 So that just gives a flavour 00:03:27.598 --> 00:03:28.177 of some of the kind of 00:03:28.198 --> 00:03:29.057 topics and issues that 00:03:29.117 --> 00:03:30.478 we're going to be getting into. 00:03:31.318 --> 00:03:33.479 But I think as a sort of opening gambit, 00:03:33.498 --> 00:03:33.639 Claire, 00:03:33.658 --> 00:03:35.338 I just wanted to ask you to share 00:03:35.399 --> 00:03:37.379 any reflections on 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:38.439 government's first month. 00:03:39.750 --> 00:03:41.010 in terms of, I guess, the tone, 00:03:41.050 --> 00:03:42.631 the ambition, the sort of enthusiasm, 00:03:42.950 --> 00:03:43.811 does it feel any different? 00:03:45.692 --> 00:03:47.451 I think it feels very different. 00:03:48.573 --> 00:03:49.932 The sense I'm getting as I'm 00:03:49.973 --> 00:03:51.213 speaking to businesses 00:03:51.473 --> 00:03:53.354 across the North is 00:03:53.593 --> 00:03:55.074 actually people are pretty 00:03:55.215 --> 00:03:59.256 hopeful that this intent to have 00:03:59.937 --> 00:04:03.501 A longer term vision to have some clarity, 00:04:03.722 --> 00:04:05.302 to put some things in place 00:04:05.643 --> 00:04:07.485 fairly quickly without a 00:04:07.544 --> 00:04:08.605 lot of chopping and 00:04:08.645 --> 00:04:10.907 changing is going to be very welcome. 00:04:11.709 --> 00:04:13.290 I think there's also a sense 00:04:13.450 --> 00:04:16.533 that we need clarity around 00:04:16.593 --> 00:04:17.935 our industrial strategies. 00:04:18.483 --> 00:04:20.285 we need some clarity around 00:04:20.384 --> 00:04:21.545 how are we going to 00:04:21.586 --> 00:04:23.648 encourage inward investment, 00:04:24.067 --> 00:04:26.410 both foreign direct investment, 00:04:26.430 --> 00:04:27.930 but also encourage 00:04:27.971 --> 00:04:29.932 investment domestically. 00:04:30.632 --> 00:04:34.615 So the language that's being used, I think, 00:04:34.776 --> 00:04:35.396 is welcome. 00:04:36.958 --> 00:04:38.538 I think there's also a recognition. 00:04:38.579 --> 00:04:40.839 You mentioned the phrase levelling up. 00:04:41.540 --> 00:04:42.822 There is a lot of discussion 00:04:42.882 --> 00:04:45.043 around regional inequalities. 00:04:45.223 --> 00:04:46.545 That's absolutely... 00:04:47.285 --> 00:04:49.404 the case what we don't want 00:04:49.444 --> 00:04:51.826 is lots of slogans what we 00:04:51.865 --> 00:04:54.346 want is action and 00:04:54.386 --> 00:04:55.887 implementation so that we 00:04:55.906 --> 00:04:57.166 can actually deliver on 00:04:57.226 --> 00:04:59.466 some of those elements so 00:04:59.648 --> 00:05:00.767 obviously we're only a 00:05:00.788 --> 00:05:03.408 month in um you know pretty 00:05:03.567 --> 00:05:05.168 quick off the off the mark 00:05:05.889 --> 00:05:08.348 um and also put in place a 00:05:08.689 --> 00:05:11.610 fairly northern focus cabinet and uh 00:05:12.410 --> 00:05:14.812 And also my sense is that 00:05:14.891 --> 00:05:17.413 there was a desire to find 00:05:17.454 --> 00:05:19.435 the right people for the 00:05:19.535 --> 00:05:22.677 right jobs and sometimes 00:05:22.716 --> 00:05:25.418 going beyond just a political landscape. 00:05:25.499 --> 00:05:26.158 But, you know, 00:05:26.178 --> 00:05:28.240 thinking quite clearly about 00:05:28.281 --> 00:05:29.141 what are the skills and 00:05:29.180 --> 00:05:30.701 capabilities that we need 00:05:30.862 --> 00:05:31.983 to be able to deliver, 00:05:32.043 --> 00:05:34.043 to deliver on the economic growth agenda. 00:05:34.504 --> 00:05:36.565 So those are some of the 00:05:36.786 --> 00:05:38.166 positives that I'm hearing 00:05:38.247 --> 00:05:39.408 from some of the businesses 00:05:39.567 --> 00:05:40.829 I'm here talking to. 00:05:42.355 --> 00:05:43.716 And do you think that can be sustained? 00:05:43.737 --> 00:05:44.999 Because I guess there's 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:45.480 always going to be an 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:46.723 initial fanfare with a new 00:05:46.762 --> 00:05:47.524 government coming in. 00:05:47.543 --> 00:05:49.827 Do you think it's or what do 00:05:49.848 --> 00:05:50.629 you think needs to happen 00:05:50.750 --> 00:05:51.872 in terms of maintaining 00:05:51.891 --> 00:05:53.475 that momentum around the agenda? 00:05:55.509 --> 00:05:57.389 Well, I think there's a few things. 00:05:57.829 --> 00:05:58.649 I'm definitely getting the 00:05:58.709 --> 00:05:59.670 impression that they're 00:05:59.689 --> 00:06:00.550 trying to get all the bad 00:06:00.610 --> 00:06:01.790 news out pretty quickly. 00:06:02.891 --> 00:06:04.752 And we've got to make sure that, 00:06:05.052 --> 00:06:07.673 and I probably would do a similar thing, 00:06:07.892 --> 00:06:08.233 actually. 00:06:08.273 --> 00:06:09.934 Let's really understand the landscape, 00:06:10.374 --> 00:06:11.233 the challenges that we've 00:06:11.254 --> 00:06:12.714 got in front of us and what 00:06:13.235 --> 00:06:13.795 we want to do. 00:06:14.295 --> 00:06:16.235 I think it's still a need 00:06:16.295 --> 00:06:17.737 for being really clear 00:06:17.817 --> 00:06:20.059 about what the UK vision is. 00:06:20.918 --> 00:06:22.459 We've been really clear about the North, 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:23.740 about what it is that we 00:06:23.781 --> 00:06:25.442 want to deliver for the North of England. 00:06:26.103 --> 00:06:27.182 And we are going to be 00:06:27.223 --> 00:06:29.225 working very closely with 00:06:29.305 --> 00:06:30.725 mayors and our local 00:06:30.745 --> 00:06:32.206 business leaders and 00:06:32.266 --> 00:06:33.187 government over the next 00:06:33.247 --> 00:06:34.528 few months to make sure 00:06:34.567 --> 00:06:36.009 that we can deliver on that vision. 00:06:37.189 --> 00:06:38.069 So I think there is that 00:06:38.610 --> 00:06:40.252 desire to make sure that there's 00:06:40.572 --> 00:06:41.973 clarity on the direction 00:06:42.012 --> 00:06:43.675 that we're going in but 00:06:43.735 --> 00:06:44.836 also the recognition that 00:06:44.875 --> 00:06:46.716 the devolution agenda is 00:06:46.776 --> 00:06:48.918 going to be accelerated and 00:06:48.978 --> 00:06:49.718 actually we're in a really 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:51.021 fortunate place across the 00:06:51.081 --> 00:06:53.642 north in that you know 00:06:53.682 --> 00:06:55.663 we've actually got to the 00:06:55.704 --> 00:06:56.865 stage where we have a 00:06:56.904 --> 00:06:58.887 number of mayors already um 00:06:59.286 --> 00:07:01.288 and that is beginning to be 00:07:01.408 --> 00:07:02.389 able you can see the 00:07:02.449 --> 00:07:03.891 success on on that and 00:07:04.312 --> 00:07:05.372 And we know that to get 00:07:05.432 --> 00:07:06.872 regional and national growth, 00:07:06.913 --> 00:07:08.134 you need to invest in our 00:07:08.173 --> 00:07:10.154 cities and in our regions 00:07:10.254 --> 00:07:11.516 to enable that to happen. 00:07:11.576 --> 00:07:13.137 So in many ways, 00:07:13.177 --> 00:07:14.237 we've got quite a lot of 00:07:14.317 --> 00:07:17.139 that platform in place. 00:07:17.238 --> 00:07:18.459 We need to accelerate that. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:19.581 Yeah. 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:21.901 And can we just delve into a bit more? 00:07:21.922 --> 00:07:23.202 You talked about the kind of 00:07:23.223 --> 00:07:24.122 clear messages to government, 00:07:24.142 --> 00:07:26.944 just in terms of what the priorities are, 00:07:26.985 --> 00:07:27.906 what the key opportunities 00:07:28.086 --> 00:07:30.766 are for the north in terms 00:07:30.786 --> 00:07:32.608 of helping drive not only northern growth, 00:07:32.627 --> 00:07:33.608 but also national growth. 00:07:35.019 --> 00:07:35.540 Absolutely. 00:07:35.961 --> 00:07:37.622 So over the last year or so, 00:07:37.641 --> 00:07:38.442 we've been working really 00:07:38.483 --> 00:07:39.202 closely with our 00:07:39.223 --> 00:07:40.483 stakeholders across the North. 00:07:40.524 --> 00:07:42.425 So that includes our mayors, 00:07:42.444 --> 00:07:45.687 it includes our universities and the N8. 00:07:46.228 --> 00:07:48.310 It includes our big and 00:07:48.410 --> 00:07:50.550 small businesses across the North. 00:07:50.670 --> 00:07:52.112 It also includes those 00:07:52.411 --> 00:07:54.213 organisations that are pulling together 00:07:54.793 --> 00:07:56.915 a number of areas such as 00:07:57.117 --> 00:07:59.038 Northwest Net Zero, for example, 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:02.822 and the desire to reduce 00:08:02.862 --> 00:08:05.103 the industrial emissions in 00:08:05.384 --> 00:08:06.485 Teesside and Humber. 00:08:06.826 --> 00:08:08.026 So we've been working really 00:08:08.107 --> 00:08:09.367 closely with a lot of those 00:08:09.449 --> 00:08:10.389 organizations. 00:08:11.149 --> 00:08:13.271 and have come up with four 00:08:13.432 --> 00:08:16.233 clear priorities and with 00:08:16.295 --> 00:08:17.755 devolution sitting underneath that. 00:08:17.795 --> 00:08:19.456 So around trade and investment, 00:08:19.476 --> 00:08:21.038 around our net zero agenda, 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:22.759 around our transport and connectivity, 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:24.141 and then the people in place. 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:25.122 So for us, 00:08:25.221 --> 00:08:26.583 actually really honing in on 00:08:26.622 --> 00:08:27.744 some of those elements is 00:08:27.803 --> 00:08:29.526 really where we can start to deliver 00:08:30.026 --> 00:08:31.247 that growth that we need. 00:08:31.288 --> 00:08:32.870 And we know that by all the 00:08:32.910 --> 00:08:35.134 research we've done around the MPI-ER, 00:08:35.394 --> 00:08:35.934 so I don't know if 00:08:35.995 --> 00:08:37.057 anybody's actually read 00:08:37.096 --> 00:08:38.799 that that's listening to us today, 00:08:38.820 --> 00:08:40.221 but I'd like to encourage 00:08:40.241 --> 00:08:41.804 everybody to read the MPI-ER 00:08:42.232 --> 00:08:44.014 the Harrington Review. 00:08:44.914 --> 00:08:45.294 Also, 00:08:46.095 --> 00:08:47.836 we've got the Manifesto of the North now, 00:08:47.895 --> 00:08:48.537 or For the North, 00:08:49.537 --> 00:08:50.937 which is on the website. 00:08:51.298 --> 00:08:53.058 And that really highlights 00:08:53.580 --> 00:08:55.520 where we believe that we 00:08:55.561 --> 00:08:56.902 should focus our energies 00:08:57.422 --> 00:08:59.222 and make sure that we can deliver. 00:08:59.582 --> 00:09:00.624 And this is about getting 00:09:00.683 --> 00:09:04.086 real clarity and focus so 00:09:04.105 --> 00:09:05.626 that we can make sure that 00:09:05.667 --> 00:09:07.687 we're moving that economic 00:09:07.727 --> 00:09:09.948 growth lever as quickly as 00:09:09.989 --> 00:09:10.690 we possibly can. 00:09:12.485 --> 00:09:13.404 You mentioned the Harrington 00:09:13.465 --> 00:09:14.485 review there in terms of 00:09:15.105 --> 00:09:18.008 trade and investment and attracting FDI. 00:09:18.148 --> 00:09:19.389 I think one of the 00:09:19.448 --> 00:09:20.850 conclusions from that was around, 00:09:21.431 --> 00:09:23.231 it presented a disjointed 00:09:23.272 --> 00:09:25.013 picture and one of 00:09:25.833 --> 00:09:26.994 competition between areas 00:09:27.054 --> 00:09:27.875 across the North rather 00:09:27.914 --> 00:09:28.836 than collaboration. 00:09:29.615 --> 00:09:30.836 Is that inevitable or do you 00:09:30.856 --> 00:09:32.477 think that there is the 00:09:32.518 --> 00:09:33.839 opportunity to develop a 00:09:33.859 --> 00:09:35.039 more coherent and joined approach? 00:09:36.408 --> 00:09:38.428 There's definitely a desire 00:09:38.749 --> 00:09:40.370 to have a much more joined 00:09:40.450 --> 00:09:43.010 up approach to our trade and investment. 00:09:43.812 --> 00:09:45.072 There's a number of 00:09:45.131 --> 00:09:45.893 different elements that I 00:09:45.913 --> 00:09:47.572 think we need to take into consideration. 00:09:49.163 --> 00:09:49.943 So one of them is, 00:09:50.904 --> 00:09:52.164 let's make sure that we're 00:09:52.225 --> 00:09:53.446 raising our profile, 00:09:53.485 --> 00:09:55.567 both globally and domestically. 00:09:55.606 --> 00:09:56.187 So globally, 00:09:56.226 --> 00:09:57.248 I think we need to be raising 00:09:57.288 --> 00:09:58.788 our profile and the UK is a 00:09:58.808 --> 00:09:59.749 good place to invest. 00:10:00.068 --> 00:10:00.649 But to do that, 00:10:00.690 --> 00:10:01.830 we've got to be really 00:10:02.009 --> 00:10:06.312 clear around our long-term security, 00:10:06.711 --> 00:10:07.513 stability, 00:10:08.513 --> 00:10:10.134 creating a business environment 00:10:10.193 --> 00:10:11.355 that really does attract 00:10:11.434 --> 00:10:13.995 people to come and talk to the UK, 00:10:14.035 --> 00:10:15.777 but also to the North of England. 00:10:16.496 --> 00:10:17.278 Then there is some think 00:10:17.337 --> 00:10:18.139 about making sure we're 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:20.041 really clear about our 00:10:20.061 --> 00:10:21.964 investable propositions across the north. 00:10:22.624 --> 00:10:24.125 So we'll have our northern 00:10:24.145 --> 00:10:26.808 investable propositions, but work really, 00:10:26.908 --> 00:10:28.431 really closely with the 00:10:28.490 --> 00:10:30.572 regions and at a local level to say, 00:10:31.094 --> 00:10:31.754 this is what you could do 00:10:31.774 --> 00:10:32.535 at a northern level. 00:10:33.015 --> 00:10:33.817 But actually, 00:10:33.917 --> 00:10:35.239 there are opportunities to 00:10:35.318 --> 00:10:37.402 invest in life sciences or 00:10:37.501 --> 00:10:40.144 clean energy in these particular areas. 00:10:40.485 --> 00:10:41.447 So it's really important to 00:10:41.506 --> 00:10:42.827 make sure that there's a 00:10:42.989 --> 00:10:44.250 bigger northern picture, 00:10:44.671 --> 00:10:47.214 as well as a recognition of 00:10:47.274 --> 00:10:48.655 all the assets that we have 00:10:49.275 --> 00:10:50.037 and the investable 00:10:50.076 --> 00:10:51.157 propositions that we have 00:10:51.476 --> 00:10:52.758 at a local level. 00:10:53.278 --> 00:10:53.998 But I think the Harrington 00:10:54.038 --> 00:10:55.538 Review is an interesting 00:10:55.619 --> 00:10:56.379 one and one I'd really 00:10:56.418 --> 00:10:59.201 recommend people to become 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:00.721 familiar with because it 00:11:00.780 --> 00:11:02.642 talks about that environment, 00:11:02.662 --> 00:11:06.004 the business environment being attractive, 00:11:06.043 --> 00:11:06.943 making us attractive. 00:11:06.964 --> 00:11:08.585 But some of that is about 00:11:08.644 --> 00:11:10.546 simplicity as much as anything else. 00:11:11.066 --> 00:11:12.927 We do overly complicate things. 00:11:13.754 --> 00:11:15.057 And I do think we need to 00:11:15.096 --> 00:11:16.940 make sure that we simplify that process. 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:19.563 So if you're sat in any of 00:11:19.903 --> 00:11:22.126 the global countries that 00:11:22.147 --> 00:11:24.269 we're competing and collaborating with, 00:11:24.309 --> 00:11:25.091 we need to make it as 00:11:25.211 --> 00:11:27.115 simple as possible for them to be able to, 00:11:27.654 --> 00:11:28.096 in essence, 00:11:28.135 --> 00:11:29.278 pick up the phone and invest 00:11:29.317 --> 00:11:30.038 in the north of England. 00:11:32.253 --> 00:11:32.533 Great. 00:11:33.714 --> 00:11:36.317 And you mentioned that a 00:11:36.336 --> 00:11:37.217 high proportion of northern 00:11:37.298 --> 00:11:40.059 MPs are on the front bench, 00:11:41.041 --> 00:11:42.763 which presumably you'd hope 00:11:42.822 --> 00:11:44.104 is going to be a good thing. 00:11:45.645 --> 00:11:47.407 I guess from an infrastructure perspective, 00:11:47.888 --> 00:11:48.969 does that give you confidence? 00:11:48.989 --> 00:11:49.690 Do you think the government 00:11:49.730 --> 00:11:50.730 really understand the kind 00:11:50.770 --> 00:11:52.011 of dire need for investment 00:11:52.131 --> 00:11:53.633 in transport connectivity 00:11:53.673 --> 00:11:54.214 across the north? 00:11:55.304 --> 00:11:56.986 Well, there's a few things, aren't there, 00:11:57.047 --> 00:11:57.947 on the transport. 00:11:57.988 --> 00:11:58.589 And I must admit, 00:11:58.609 --> 00:12:01.511 it's a bit... Having 00:12:01.952 --> 00:12:03.835 travelled to London for 30 00:12:03.835 --> 00:12:05.277 years for two or three days a week, 00:12:05.356 --> 00:12:06.357 I do know the West Coast 00:12:06.378 --> 00:12:07.259 mainline pretty well. 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:09.442 But it's not just about that. 00:12:09.501 --> 00:12:12.424 It's about the East-West connectivity. 00:12:13.346 --> 00:12:15.466 It is absolutely critical 00:12:15.506 --> 00:12:16.628 and fundamental to our 00:12:16.668 --> 00:12:18.227 ability to increase our 00:12:18.248 --> 00:12:19.369 economic growth and to 00:12:19.469 --> 00:12:22.029 improve our productivity if 00:12:22.370 --> 00:12:24.530 we can deliver on some of 00:12:24.610 --> 00:12:25.672 our transport plans. 00:12:25.692 --> 00:12:26.292 I mean, 00:12:26.312 --> 00:12:28.952 there is the crew Manchester high 00:12:29.013 --> 00:12:30.793 speed bill that's in the 00:12:31.394 --> 00:12:32.274 in the King's Speech. 00:12:33.496 --> 00:12:33.756 However, 00:12:33.777 --> 00:12:35.158 it doesn't commit to any 00:12:35.219 --> 00:12:36.360 particular projects, 00:12:36.801 --> 00:12:38.082 so that is something that I 00:12:38.123 --> 00:12:40.446 think we need to explore 00:12:40.466 --> 00:12:41.366 with some urgency. 00:12:41.447 --> 00:12:41.947 Certainly, 00:12:42.389 --> 00:12:45.212 I know Greater Manchester are 00:12:45.273 --> 00:12:46.735 having some of those conversations, 00:12:46.815 --> 00:12:48.836 as are our wider northern leaders. 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:53.181 We would still have wanted 00:12:53.201 --> 00:12:56.923 HS2 as businesses to invest 00:12:56.982 --> 00:12:59.105 in HS2 and the Northern Powerhouse Rail. 00:12:59.384 --> 00:13:00.385 That was our desire. 00:13:01.326 --> 00:13:03.427 That isn't currently in the bill. 00:13:03.947 --> 00:13:05.568 And the reasons for that is 00:13:05.609 --> 00:13:07.330 because that's not about speed, 00:13:07.450 --> 00:13:09.091 which is something that always comes up. 00:13:09.172 --> 00:13:10.471 That is about capacity. 00:13:11.212 --> 00:13:12.533 And some people may have 00:13:12.573 --> 00:13:14.174 seen this at the weekend. 00:13:14.605 --> 00:13:15.846 that there seems to be an 00:13:15.885 --> 00:13:18.126 increase of prices we may 00:13:18.167 --> 00:13:19.268 be expecting across the 00:13:19.307 --> 00:13:20.149 north of England to 00:13:20.229 --> 00:13:21.609 actually reduce the number 00:13:21.629 --> 00:13:22.370 of people going on the 00:13:22.389 --> 00:13:23.090 train because they haven't 00:13:23.110 --> 00:13:23.770 got the capacity. 00:13:24.211 --> 00:13:24.711 Now, for me, 00:13:24.791 --> 00:13:26.773 that would get absolutely in 00:13:26.812 --> 00:13:28.153 the way of economic growth 00:13:28.193 --> 00:13:29.474 and productivity for the north. 00:13:29.835 --> 00:13:30.754 So that's something I do 00:13:30.815 --> 00:13:33.756 think we need to continue to explore. 00:13:33.777 --> 00:13:34.977 I think things like the 00:13:35.057 --> 00:13:37.158 buses and actually looking 00:13:37.239 --> 00:13:38.299 at different models has 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.660 been demonstrated by the B 00:13:39.681 --> 00:13:40.841 network in Manchester. 00:13:41.869 --> 00:13:43.149 is really important. 00:13:43.769 --> 00:13:44.690 But we also need to take 00:13:44.730 --> 00:13:46.149 into consideration things 00:13:46.250 --> 00:13:47.811 like the airport and how do 00:13:47.831 --> 00:13:48.811 we make sure we make the 00:13:48.870 --> 00:13:50.071 most of Manchester Airport 00:13:50.091 --> 00:13:51.091 and other airports across 00:13:51.110 --> 00:13:53.331 the North to really enable 00:13:53.392 --> 00:13:54.552 some of that productivity 00:13:54.591 --> 00:13:55.572 and economic growth, 00:13:56.293 --> 00:13:57.732 who can also play a key 00:13:57.773 --> 00:13:59.734 part in our sustainability 00:14:00.153 --> 00:14:01.234 and net zero agenda. 00:14:01.413 --> 00:14:02.735 But we need to really think 00:14:02.774 --> 00:14:04.075 about that really closely. 00:14:04.115 --> 00:14:05.034 And Transport for the North 00:14:05.054 --> 00:14:05.955 has been putting together a 00:14:05.995 --> 00:14:07.096 really comprehensive 00:14:07.115 --> 00:14:08.275 strategic transport plan 00:14:08.888 --> 00:14:10.149 that again, 00:14:10.208 --> 00:14:11.210 we are gonna be working really 00:14:11.250 --> 00:14:12.331 closely with government to 00:14:12.370 --> 00:14:13.851 ensure that we can deliver on that. 00:14:15.293 --> 00:14:15.653 I mean, 00:14:15.793 --> 00:14:17.375 hugely challenging kind of fiscal 00:14:17.414 --> 00:14:17.835 environment, 00:14:17.875 --> 00:14:19.856 even yesterday in terms of 20 00:14:19.856 --> 00:14:20.878 billion pound black holes 00:14:20.957 --> 00:14:22.479 and these kind of capital 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.860 projects being cut rather 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:26.062 than added to the pipeline. 00:14:26.923 --> 00:14:29.144 I guess the importance on 00:14:29.465 --> 00:14:30.044 being able to really 00:14:30.085 --> 00:14:30.966 advocate and make a 00:14:31.005 --> 00:14:31.986 stronger case as possible 00:14:32.006 --> 00:14:32.787 for any investment in the 00:14:32.807 --> 00:14:34.649 North is more important than ever. 00:14:36.027 --> 00:14:36.287 It is, 00:14:36.307 --> 00:14:38.428 and I think we've got the research 00:14:38.970 --> 00:14:41.831 and we have the evidence to say, you know, 00:14:41.991 --> 00:14:42.873 if we invest, 00:14:43.193 --> 00:14:44.315 we will give you a really 00:14:44.375 --> 00:14:45.416 good return on your money. 00:14:46.235 --> 00:14:47.517 And at the end of the day, 00:14:47.537 --> 00:14:50.320 that's pretty critical and pretty core. 00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:50.899 I mean, 00:14:50.961 --> 00:14:53.403 one of the things that I think we 00:14:53.602 --> 00:14:55.163 really do hope that we will 00:14:55.224 --> 00:14:56.245 find is some of the 00:14:57.306 --> 00:14:58.187 elements such as 00:14:58.647 --> 00:15:00.129 recognizing the consequence 00:15:00.188 --> 00:15:00.808 and the long-term 00:15:00.828 --> 00:15:02.471 consequences of some of these decisions. 00:15:03.068 --> 00:15:04.230 And I think in many ways 00:15:04.289 --> 00:15:05.570 what we want to move away 00:15:05.610 --> 00:15:08.371 from is this really short term thinking. 00:15:09.032 --> 00:15:10.033 And the other and the other 00:15:10.332 --> 00:15:11.192 element that I think has 00:15:11.212 --> 00:15:12.094 been getting in the way of 00:15:12.153 --> 00:15:13.474 our economic growth in the 00:15:13.533 --> 00:15:16.015 north is actually just not 00:15:16.096 --> 00:15:16.975 making a decision. 00:15:18.576 --> 00:15:19.638 So quite often what we're 00:15:19.677 --> 00:15:21.197 finding is decision making 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.058 is really long. 00:15:22.893 --> 00:15:24.193 And then people are committing, 00:15:24.375 --> 00:15:25.515 but not making the, 00:15:25.836 --> 00:15:26.996 doing the actual spend. 00:15:28.317 --> 00:15:29.259 So, and again, 00:15:29.438 --> 00:15:30.801 all changing the plan and 00:15:30.841 --> 00:15:32.162 therefore you've got a real 00:15:32.221 --> 00:15:33.744 uncertainty in the economy. 00:15:34.083 --> 00:15:35.485 So if we can hone in on some 00:15:35.524 --> 00:15:38.467 of those elements where we commit, 00:15:39.369 --> 00:15:41.350 we deliver and also we make 00:15:41.370 --> 00:15:42.172 some decision making, 00:15:42.192 --> 00:15:43.352 whether it's a yes or no, 00:15:43.413 --> 00:15:45.214 sometimes it actually 00:15:45.254 --> 00:15:46.635 doesn't matter to make a 00:15:46.676 --> 00:15:48.957 decision rather than having 00:15:49.018 --> 00:15:50.099 businesses hanging on to 00:15:50.698 --> 00:15:52.801 not clear in the landscape 00:15:52.841 --> 00:15:54.142 that they're having to invest in. 00:15:54.162 --> 00:15:55.322 So I think that that's pretty, 00:15:55.823 --> 00:15:56.783 pretty important. 00:15:57.745 --> 00:15:58.066 So, yeah, 00:15:58.086 --> 00:15:59.386 let's keep focused on the 00:15:59.447 --> 00:16:00.768 consequences of making some 00:16:00.807 --> 00:16:02.448 of these decisions and 00:16:02.509 --> 00:16:04.331 thinking about them longer 00:16:04.350 --> 00:16:05.412 term in terms of how we 00:16:05.471 --> 00:16:06.452 actually going to achieve 00:16:06.908 --> 00:16:07.870 the economic growth that's 00:16:07.889 --> 00:16:09.091 required for us to be able 00:16:09.130 --> 00:16:10.792 to have a sustainable, inclusive, 00:16:10.831 --> 00:16:12.013 healthy economy. 00:16:13.854 --> 00:16:16.335 You mentioned the term there, sustainable, 00:16:16.375 --> 00:16:17.355 in terms of growth. 00:16:18.437 --> 00:16:19.577 Do you think that the 00:16:19.618 --> 00:16:20.958 ambitions that the 00:16:21.078 --> 00:16:22.019 partnership have got and 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:23.320 local economies have got, 00:16:23.681 --> 00:16:24.941 is that compatible with the 00:16:24.961 --> 00:16:25.721 net zero agenda? 00:16:27.587 --> 00:16:27.707 Well, 00:16:27.727 --> 00:16:28.888 I think actually a lot of the growth 00:16:28.908 --> 00:16:31.028 will come from that net zero agenda. 00:16:31.089 --> 00:16:32.409 And I think when we look at 00:16:32.470 --> 00:16:33.350 some of the clusters, 00:16:33.450 --> 00:16:34.289 so particularly around 00:16:34.330 --> 00:16:35.471 things like the industrial 00:16:35.931 --> 00:16:36.630 clusters that we have. 00:16:36.650 --> 00:16:38.192 So we've got three of those 00:16:38.792 --> 00:16:39.491 where we've really got 00:16:39.532 --> 00:16:40.493 quite high emitting, 00:16:40.572 --> 00:16:41.893 but also pretty productive 00:16:42.273 --> 00:16:43.134 industrial clusters. 00:16:44.085 --> 00:16:44.625 in the North. 00:16:44.764 --> 00:16:46.206 So we do need to make sure 00:16:46.245 --> 00:16:47.606 that we're giving them the support. 00:16:47.626 --> 00:16:49.528 And we've had some pretty 00:16:49.567 --> 00:16:50.908 good successes in Humber, 00:16:50.928 --> 00:16:52.629 Teesside and the Northwest 00:16:53.571 --> 00:16:55.491 and around Cheshire with 00:16:55.511 --> 00:16:57.293 things like HiNet and some 00:16:57.312 --> 00:16:59.214 of the investment we've had there. 00:16:59.695 --> 00:17:01.075 So maintaining and keeping 00:17:01.134 --> 00:17:03.197 that momentum going is really important. 00:17:03.817 --> 00:17:05.557 but again something that 00:17:05.597 --> 00:17:06.939 comes up whatever sector 00:17:07.098 --> 00:17:09.640 you are in is our capacity 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.260 our energy capacity so 00:17:11.280 --> 00:17:12.921 putting in place um the 00:17:12.961 --> 00:17:13.761 great british energy I 00:17:14.082 --> 00:17:14.582 think it's going to be 00:17:14.602 --> 00:17:16.002 really important so I think um 00:17:17.034 --> 00:17:17.994 Jürgen Mayer has just been 00:17:18.055 --> 00:17:19.656 announced as leading on that. 00:17:20.097 --> 00:17:21.619 And that's a big job because 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:22.381 it doesn't matter whether 00:17:22.401 --> 00:17:23.761 you're in the water industry, 00:17:23.801 --> 00:17:25.284 the transport sector, 00:17:25.765 --> 00:17:28.268 the aviation sector. 00:17:28.327 --> 00:17:30.230 It doesn't matter which housing sector. 00:17:31.030 --> 00:17:31.391 Actually, 00:17:31.571 --> 00:17:33.913 our capacity at grid level is 00:17:33.993 --> 00:17:34.734 holding us back. 00:17:35.753 --> 00:17:36.974 So we do need to have a 00:17:37.174 --> 00:17:38.215 really sensible 00:17:38.256 --> 00:17:40.156 conversation about our 00:17:40.196 --> 00:17:43.400 capacity and where and how 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:45.661 and when are we going to invest in that? 00:17:46.021 --> 00:17:47.123 So I think that's actually a 00:17:47.163 --> 00:17:48.363 bit of a priority for us. 00:17:48.403 --> 00:17:49.344 And I'm not quite sure that 00:17:49.364 --> 00:17:50.384 comes up the agenda as 00:17:50.444 --> 00:17:51.306 quickly as it should. 00:17:52.086 --> 00:17:54.106 And then the other areas 00:17:54.307 --> 00:17:55.787 around the whole net zero 00:17:55.906 --> 00:17:57.288 is actually let's make sure 00:17:57.327 --> 00:17:59.008 that we're collaborating, 00:17:59.528 --> 00:18:00.568 learning from each other 00:18:00.888 --> 00:18:02.388 and competing at a global level, 00:18:02.449 --> 00:18:03.730 not necessarily competing 00:18:03.769 --> 00:18:04.650 at a really quite 00:18:05.089 --> 00:18:08.030 relatively small local areas. 00:18:09.431 --> 00:18:10.551 Because I think sometimes we 00:18:10.592 --> 00:18:11.731 forget we are global. 00:18:12.587 --> 00:18:13.808 we're putting this 00:18:13.868 --> 00:18:15.130 competition across and 00:18:15.170 --> 00:18:16.170 we're putting a lot of 00:18:16.450 --> 00:18:17.770 energy and money into 00:18:17.830 --> 00:18:21.452 competing at local levels, when really, 00:18:21.673 --> 00:18:22.433 I think we should be 00:18:22.473 --> 00:18:24.515 thinking much bigger than 00:18:24.555 --> 00:18:25.915 that and actually competing 00:18:25.935 --> 00:18:26.836 at a global level, 00:18:26.855 --> 00:18:28.696 not necessarily at a domestic level. 00:18:28.717 --> 00:18:30.438 So there's a lot of work to be done. 00:18:30.738 --> 00:18:32.318 But we've also got a lot of really, 00:18:32.398 --> 00:18:34.859 really impressive technologies in the UK. 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:36.461 And I think we need to keep that lead. 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.561 I don't want to see us 00:18:38.040 --> 00:18:39.480 stepping back from that lead. 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:42.142 I think we need to be a bit more ambitious, 00:18:42.162 --> 00:18:43.143 a bit bolder. 00:18:44.942 --> 00:18:46.143 And presumably ensuring that 00:18:46.202 --> 00:18:47.864 as part of that transition, you know, 00:18:47.884 --> 00:18:48.564 you talked about some of 00:18:48.584 --> 00:18:49.544 the industrial clusters 00:18:49.564 --> 00:18:50.565 there and also the kind of 00:18:50.625 --> 00:18:51.644 existing energy production, 00:18:52.565 --> 00:18:56.467 but presumably over time, you know, 00:18:56.507 --> 00:18:57.606 there may be job losses and 00:18:57.626 --> 00:18:58.626 the need for reskilling and 00:18:58.646 --> 00:19:00.268 retraining of people 00:19:00.288 --> 00:19:01.307 working in those industries. 00:19:02.708 --> 00:19:04.828 Yeah, and I think that reskilling is, 00:19:04.949 --> 00:19:05.189 I mean, 00:19:05.209 --> 00:19:06.970 what we won't have is a lack of jobs. 00:19:07.069 --> 00:19:07.750 I mean, there are 00:19:08.755 --> 00:19:10.717 we have jobs and with each 00:19:10.977 --> 00:19:13.019 one of these big shifts in 00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:14.280 our industrial clusters and 00:19:14.320 --> 00:19:15.501 our net zero technologies, 00:19:15.803 --> 00:19:17.444 we are creating thousands, 00:19:17.484 --> 00:19:19.006 tens of thousands of new jobs. 00:19:19.866 --> 00:19:22.147 So that re-skilling role, 00:19:22.468 --> 00:19:24.868 I think is both a UK wide 00:19:25.169 --> 00:19:26.190 role where we need to 00:19:26.230 --> 00:19:26.930 understand what our 00:19:26.970 --> 00:19:28.871 national skills gaps are 00:19:29.411 --> 00:19:31.352 and also at a local and regional level. 00:19:32.211 --> 00:19:33.752 That's also, that's the combination, 00:19:33.792 --> 00:19:34.093 I think, 00:19:34.153 --> 00:19:35.493 of the education sector working 00:19:35.513 --> 00:19:36.473 really closely with 00:19:36.513 --> 00:19:38.335 business and business also 00:19:38.394 --> 00:19:41.576 recognising the need to work together, 00:19:41.596 --> 00:19:42.096 you know, 00:19:42.135 --> 00:19:43.196 improving the way that the 00:19:43.257 --> 00:19:44.576 apprenticeship levy works 00:19:44.636 --> 00:19:45.678 and making sure that we do 00:19:45.738 --> 00:19:46.857 that really effectively, 00:19:47.178 --> 00:19:48.259 bringing young people 00:19:48.868 --> 00:19:50.911 in really early so we can 00:19:50.951 --> 00:19:52.092 inspire them and think 00:19:52.152 --> 00:19:53.673 about the opportunities that there are. 00:19:54.252 --> 00:19:55.794 But also just being really 00:19:56.394 --> 00:19:57.395 mature and long-term 00:19:57.435 --> 00:19:58.876 thinking about the fact 00:19:58.957 --> 00:20:00.337 that actually if you are 00:20:00.357 --> 00:20:00.958 going to change your 00:20:00.998 --> 00:20:02.558 technology within your business, 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.920 actually you have a 00:20:04.020 --> 00:20:05.622 responsibility also to just 00:20:05.662 --> 00:20:06.923 think about how do we help 00:20:06.962 --> 00:20:08.703 that reskilling and work 00:20:08.743 --> 00:20:09.805 with some of the national 00:20:09.924 --> 00:20:11.665 agencies to enable that to happen. 00:20:11.965 --> 00:20:13.627 We've got some amazing universities. 00:20:14.127 --> 00:20:17.549 amazing uh secondary sector 00:20:17.630 --> 00:20:19.490 education and and I think 00:20:19.510 --> 00:20:20.332 we should celebrate 00:20:20.711 --> 00:20:22.452 celebrate that and make 00:20:22.472 --> 00:20:23.192 sure that we're bringing 00:20:23.212 --> 00:20:24.314 them into the discussions 00:20:25.375 --> 00:20:26.494 yeah and presumably that 00:20:26.595 --> 00:20:27.355 you know I guess that more 00:20:27.415 --> 00:20:28.416 integrated approach you 00:20:28.436 --> 00:20:29.737 talked about there the kind 00:20:29.757 --> 00:20:30.557 of devolution for the 00:20:30.577 --> 00:20:31.557 devolution should should 00:20:31.597 --> 00:20:35.480 help that and enable that um do you think 00:20:37.048 --> 00:20:38.470 the areas are ready for 00:20:38.509 --> 00:20:39.971 increased powers and 00:20:40.030 --> 00:20:40.991 responsibilities I guess 00:20:41.011 --> 00:20:42.073 it's one thing asking uh 00:20:42.772 --> 00:20:43.673 and banging their own video 00:20:43.693 --> 00:20:44.914 prediction but then there's 00:20:44.954 --> 00:20:45.976 reality of delivery and 00:20:46.016 --> 00:20:47.596 accountability that that 00:20:47.656 --> 00:20:50.439 also plays out yeah that's 00:20:50.618 --> 00:20:51.700 a good question and I think 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.861 some are more ready than others 00:20:55.061 --> 00:20:56.383 And I think that there's 00:20:56.442 --> 00:20:57.742 probably a bit of a mix of 00:20:57.762 --> 00:20:59.002 capabilities and competence, 00:20:59.042 --> 00:20:59.843 and I think we need to be 00:20:59.883 --> 00:21:01.124 really realistic about what 00:21:01.163 --> 00:21:02.263 do we need to be able to 00:21:02.304 --> 00:21:03.243 deliver this agenda. 00:21:03.263 --> 00:21:04.545 I mean, actually, 00:21:05.325 --> 00:21:07.164 looking at some of the decisions, 00:21:07.464 --> 00:21:08.384 people decisions that have 00:21:08.424 --> 00:21:10.965 been made in the cabinet 00:21:11.185 --> 00:21:12.866 and key responsibilities, 00:21:13.126 --> 00:21:13.926 there does seem to be a 00:21:13.967 --> 00:21:15.547 pretty realistic view. 00:21:15.567 --> 00:21:16.067 You know, 00:21:16.146 --> 00:21:17.107 if we're going to ask somebody to 00:21:17.147 --> 00:21:18.067 be the prisons minister, 00:21:18.147 --> 00:21:18.928 let's ask somebody who 00:21:18.968 --> 00:21:20.127 understands how the prisons work. 00:21:21.388 --> 00:21:22.909 You know, and that's actually 00:21:23.375 --> 00:21:24.376 know with people like james 00:21:24.396 --> 00:21:25.617 timpson coming in you know 00:21:25.637 --> 00:21:27.318 that's actually encouraging 00:21:27.358 --> 00:21:28.180 and I think we need to do 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:30.721 the same at a at a local 00:21:31.061 --> 00:21:32.563 level is being really 00:21:32.643 --> 00:21:34.144 realistic about what is the 00:21:34.183 --> 00:21:36.205 capabilities that we need 00:21:36.226 --> 00:21:37.467 to be able to deliver and 00:21:37.886 --> 00:21:39.407 and be very straightforward 00:21:39.428 --> 00:21:40.910 about that and then either 00:21:40.950 --> 00:21:42.691 reskill or recruit from 00:21:42.851 --> 00:21:45.173 very different industry sectors 00:21:46.576 --> 00:21:46.816 You know, 00:21:46.875 --> 00:21:47.957 just because you've worked in the 00:21:47.977 --> 00:21:48.957 private sector does not 00:21:48.997 --> 00:21:49.916 mean you can't work in the 00:21:49.957 --> 00:21:51.417 public sector and vice versa. 00:21:52.018 --> 00:21:53.758 And I think maybe we need a 00:21:53.798 --> 00:21:55.259 little bit more of that mix. 00:21:55.278 --> 00:21:58.000 So you're bringing private 00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.259 sector and business people 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.961 into local authorities, 00:22:01.020 --> 00:22:02.280 into the combined authorities. 00:22:02.361 --> 00:22:03.402 So we're actually making 00:22:03.461 --> 00:22:04.461 sure that we're bringing 00:22:04.922 --> 00:22:06.521 those capabilities together 00:22:06.582 --> 00:22:08.042 in a very collaborative approach. 00:22:09.672 --> 00:22:11.673 And is there a risk in a 00:22:11.692 --> 00:22:12.553 particular relevant given 00:22:12.573 --> 00:22:13.452 your role in terms of that 00:22:13.492 --> 00:22:14.633 private sector engagement 00:22:14.732 --> 00:22:17.334 and I guess a kind of 00:22:17.374 --> 00:22:19.454 post-LEP era in terms of 00:22:19.474 --> 00:22:20.234 that private sector 00:22:20.275 --> 00:22:21.515 engagement and expertise? 00:22:22.674 --> 00:22:23.855 Do you think that the right 00:22:23.895 --> 00:22:25.556 plans are in place so that 00:22:25.576 --> 00:22:26.276 we don't end up with a 00:22:26.296 --> 00:22:27.297 deficit on that and that 00:22:27.656 --> 00:22:29.037 the private sector and the right, I guess, 00:22:29.057 --> 00:22:29.916 the right calibre and 00:22:30.416 --> 00:22:31.317 diversity and mix of 00:22:31.357 --> 00:22:34.698 private sector individuals 00:22:34.758 --> 00:22:36.138 are really supporting that 00:22:36.179 --> 00:22:36.939 local growth agenda? 00:22:38.273 --> 00:22:38.794 I think we've had, 00:22:39.394 --> 00:22:40.555 I think the government's 00:22:40.575 --> 00:22:42.536 brought in about 150 businesses, I think, 00:22:42.556 --> 00:22:44.096 to work on some of the work. 00:22:44.217 --> 00:22:45.097 I think it'd be interesting 00:22:45.117 --> 00:22:46.138 to see how we deal with 00:22:46.159 --> 00:22:47.459 this industrial strategy 00:22:47.618 --> 00:22:48.579 and also the regional 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:50.161 growth strategies and who 00:22:50.181 --> 00:22:51.422 they have sat around the table. 00:22:53.021 --> 00:22:54.022 Making sure that we continue 00:22:54.042 --> 00:22:54.943 to have the business voice 00:22:55.384 --> 00:22:59.066 around those tables is really important. 00:22:59.935 --> 00:23:01.376 If I'm honest, 00:23:01.596 --> 00:23:03.998 I was disappointed to see 00:23:04.018 --> 00:23:05.858 that the model shifted. 00:23:07.318 --> 00:23:07.739 However, 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:11.221 that has happened and we're moving into 00:23:11.977 --> 00:23:13.297 a very different approach. 00:23:13.336 --> 00:23:14.617 And I think where you've got 00:23:14.698 --> 00:23:15.817 the devolution agenda and 00:23:15.837 --> 00:23:16.998 they're still putting the 00:23:17.018 --> 00:23:19.259 business voice around the table, 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.259 I think that that is 00:23:20.298 --> 00:23:21.358 probably very helpful. 00:23:22.398 --> 00:23:22.598 Again, 00:23:22.638 --> 00:23:23.819 because everybody brings something 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.660 quite different to that 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:27.780 party and making sure we're 00:23:27.800 --> 00:23:29.461 listening to diverse voices 00:23:30.280 --> 00:23:31.240 and without it becoming a 00:23:31.280 --> 00:23:34.321 talking shop is really important. 00:23:34.861 --> 00:23:36.821 But maintaining some pace 00:23:36.902 --> 00:23:38.482 and maintaining some 00:23:38.883 --> 00:23:40.625 decision-making with a 00:23:40.684 --> 00:23:42.365 long-term picture in place 00:23:42.425 --> 00:23:44.747 is going to be really key. 00:23:45.166 --> 00:23:46.988 And I'd really encourage 00:23:47.048 --> 00:23:49.529 that to continue to be the case. 00:23:49.990 --> 00:23:50.289 And I mean, 00:23:50.309 --> 00:23:51.451 there are some really good 00:23:52.432 --> 00:23:54.093 examples of where that's working well, 00:23:54.153 --> 00:23:55.133 but I think there's also 00:23:55.173 --> 00:23:56.233 places where that may be 00:23:56.273 --> 00:23:57.194 taking a little bit more of 00:23:57.335 --> 00:23:59.415 a backward step. 00:23:59.736 --> 00:24:01.277 And I would encourage that 00:24:01.517 --> 00:24:02.837 to maintain that collaboration. 00:24:04.135 --> 00:24:04.916 Yeah, no, that's, 00:24:05.257 --> 00:24:06.238 I think all really good points. 00:24:06.778 --> 00:24:07.519 What about in terms of the 00:24:07.538 --> 00:24:08.638 kind of wider private 00:24:08.679 --> 00:24:09.519 sector engagement in terms of, 00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:11.201 we touched on earlier in 00:24:11.221 --> 00:24:11.902 terms of the other kind of 00:24:11.922 --> 00:24:15.564 secure investment, whether that be, 00:24:15.825 --> 00:24:16.065 you know, 00:24:16.085 --> 00:24:18.365 through the UK infrastructure bank, 00:24:18.405 --> 00:24:20.268 British business bank, or, you know, 00:24:20.367 --> 00:24:21.028 more from the private 00:24:21.048 --> 00:24:22.829 sector in terms of sovereign wealth funds, 00:24:23.309 --> 00:24:24.490 institutional investors, etc. 00:24:24.510 --> 00:24:24.651 Yeah. 00:24:27.805 --> 00:24:28.664 I think the North has 00:24:28.684 --> 00:24:30.046 secured an awful lot of investment, 00:24:30.066 --> 00:24:30.665 particularly in the kind of 00:24:30.685 --> 00:24:32.306 net zero and energy 00:24:32.865 --> 00:24:33.726 infrastructure over the 00:24:33.746 --> 00:24:35.707 last couple of years. 00:24:35.787 --> 00:24:37.527 But is there anything we 00:24:37.547 --> 00:24:38.407 should be doing or anything 00:24:38.428 --> 00:24:39.407 North can be doing more to 00:24:39.587 --> 00:24:40.327 kind of shift the tunnel 00:24:40.367 --> 00:24:41.827 and really to try and help 00:24:41.867 --> 00:24:44.148 rebalance that investment 00:24:44.209 --> 00:24:44.909 across the country? 00:24:46.028 --> 00:24:47.450 Yeah, well, I think there's a few things. 00:24:49.078 --> 00:24:52.722 So with the intended National Wealth Fund, 00:24:52.742 --> 00:24:53.963 where they're bringing in 00:24:54.003 --> 00:24:54.984 the National Infrastructure 00:24:55.005 --> 00:24:56.747 Bank and also the British Business Bank, 00:24:57.928 --> 00:24:59.490 working with them together 00:24:59.670 --> 00:25:00.971 is going to be pretty important, 00:25:00.991 --> 00:25:02.272 but also making sure that 00:25:02.292 --> 00:25:04.134 when people like DBT and 00:25:04.194 --> 00:25:05.355 others and you've got the 00:25:05.375 --> 00:25:06.497 Green Finance Institute, 00:25:06.698 --> 00:25:07.659 everybody working really 00:25:07.699 --> 00:25:10.280 closely and UKRI are investing. 00:25:11.082 --> 00:25:12.383 There are some things that I 00:25:12.442 --> 00:25:15.005 think we need to be really 00:25:15.925 --> 00:25:17.307 thoughtful about, 00:25:17.707 --> 00:25:18.547 and some of that is 00:25:19.208 --> 00:25:20.949 actually application processes. 00:25:21.630 --> 00:25:22.549 If I think about some of the 00:25:22.690 --> 00:25:24.311 SMEs that I speak to on a 00:25:24.352 --> 00:25:25.471 very regular basis, 00:25:25.511 --> 00:25:27.253 some of which I've invested in myself, 00:25:28.834 --> 00:25:30.115 We make the application 00:25:30.154 --> 00:25:32.736 process extraordinarily complicated. 00:25:33.215 --> 00:25:36.317 And as an entrepreneur, 00:25:37.057 --> 00:25:37.998 it's very difficult to get 00:25:38.038 --> 00:25:38.857 that balance right if 00:25:38.877 --> 00:25:39.958 you're constantly having to 00:25:39.998 --> 00:25:41.419 fill in applications for funding, 00:25:41.798 --> 00:25:42.739 as opposed to making that 00:25:42.959 --> 00:25:43.680 as simple and 00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:45.180 straightforward as possible. 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.701 And then not to make a 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:48.000 decision at all and keep 00:25:48.040 --> 00:25:49.102 people hanging on for nine 00:25:49.142 --> 00:25:50.701 months a year and then 00:25:50.761 --> 00:25:51.982 expecting a match fund, 00:25:52.163 --> 00:25:52.923 all of those things. 00:25:53.384 --> 00:25:54.987 actually make life quite complex, 00:25:55.027 --> 00:25:57.169 whether you're an SME or 00:25:57.209 --> 00:25:58.471 whether you're a large business. 00:25:58.490 --> 00:25:59.471 I think there is something 00:25:59.571 --> 00:26:01.433 about making that a much 00:26:01.473 --> 00:26:03.875 simpler and much more efficient process. 00:26:05.178 --> 00:26:06.019 I think we also need to be 00:26:06.058 --> 00:26:07.059 really transparent. 00:26:08.020 --> 00:26:08.601 There's something about 00:26:08.641 --> 00:26:10.943 transparency and sharing information. 00:26:11.657 --> 00:26:13.038 and then making a commitment. 00:26:13.219 --> 00:26:14.979 So particularly if you're 00:26:14.999 --> 00:26:16.680 going for funding which is 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.400 government backed, 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:19.141 making sure that we're not 00:26:19.161 --> 00:26:20.181 going to then switch that 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.221 off because a business 00:26:21.381 --> 00:26:22.461 needs to be able to plan 00:26:22.501 --> 00:26:24.682 for the long term. 00:26:24.742 --> 00:26:25.143 So again, 00:26:25.182 --> 00:26:27.103 I'd go back to keeping it simple 00:26:27.222 --> 00:26:28.804 and focusing on the long term. 00:26:28.844 --> 00:26:31.125 So in some ways it sounds really simple, 00:26:31.944 --> 00:26:33.425 but some of this is really 00:26:33.465 --> 00:26:34.965 getting in the way of us 00:26:35.026 --> 00:26:37.007 enabling our incredibly 00:26:37.067 --> 00:26:38.326 innovative and creative 00:26:38.386 --> 00:26:40.167 businesses to be able to deliver. 00:26:41.108 --> 00:26:41.730 And the other thing is I 00:26:41.750 --> 00:26:42.670 think we still need to have 00:26:42.690 --> 00:26:45.633 a conversation about our 00:26:45.673 --> 00:26:47.214 trading partners and how 00:26:47.234 --> 00:26:48.596 we're going to ensure that 00:26:48.756 --> 00:26:50.597 we're enabling import and exports. 00:26:51.858 --> 00:26:53.119 I still have conversations 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:54.121 with a lot of businesses 00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:55.021 who are finding the 00:26:55.061 --> 00:26:57.324 bureaucracy really complex 00:26:57.663 --> 00:26:58.424 and getting in the way of 00:26:58.464 --> 00:26:59.605 their ability to deliver. 00:26:59.965 --> 00:27:00.807 So that's something else I 00:27:00.826 --> 00:27:02.327 think still needs to be on the agenda. 00:27:03.249 --> 00:27:03.808 Yeah, okay. 00:27:04.650 --> 00:27:05.711 I'm conscious we've only got 00:27:05.770 --> 00:27:06.511 a couple of minutes left 00:27:06.551 --> 00:27:07.112 and just wanted to... 00:27:11.108 --> 00:27:13.490 in terms of I guess what you 00:27:13.510 --> 00:27:14.731 think the priorities are 00:27:14.751 --> 00:27:16.653 for all your key asks are 00:27:16.673 --> 00:27:17.575 of the new government you 00:27:17.595 --> 00:27:18.536 know working with them over 00:27:18.576 --> 00:27:21.538 the next term is there 00:27:21.557 --> 00:27:22.699 anything either what you've 00:27:22.719 --> 00:27:23.539 already talked about or 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.361 anything we haven't touched 00:27:24.421 --> 00:27:25.301 on yet that you think is an 00:27:25.321 --> 00:27:26.482 absolute priority and you 00:27:26.522 --> 00:27:27.202 really want to be putting 00:27:27.262 --> 00:27:29.065 on Keir Starmer and 00:27:29.085 --> 00:27:31.866 colleagues agenda so if I 00:27:31.886 --> 00:27:33.409 stick with our sustainable 00:27:33.449 --> 00:27:35.430 and inclusive and healthy 00:27:35.490 --> 00:27:37.051 growth for the north 00:27:38.049 --> 00:27:39.750 Absolutely, we take each one of those. 00:27:40.151 --> 00:27:42.731 So I think being quite bold 00:27:42.771 --> 00:27:44.593 and ambitious around our net zero agenda, 00:27:44.613 --> 00:27:45.693 I think is really important 00:27:45.753 --> 00:27:47.515 and enabling those creative 00:27:47.775 --> 00:27:49.395 thoughts and plans that we've got, 00:27:49.516 --> 00:27:50.615 really honing in on some of 00:27:50.675 --> 00:27:51.876 our investable propositions. 00:27:52.317 --> 00:27:54.397 Let's really get behind all of those. 00:27:54.657 --> 00:27:56.980 Let's raise our profile as 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:58.780 the UK at a global level to 00:27:58.941 --> 00:28:00.520 really make sure that we're 00:28:00.540 --> 00:28:01.261 setting up the business 00:28:01.301 --> 00:28:02.422 environment to attract 00:28:02.782 --> 00:28:03.982 people into the UK. 00:28:04.663 --> 00:28:06.243 I think on our trade and investment, 00:28:06.604 --> 00:28:07.625 let's simplify that 00:28:08.125 --> 00:28:08.425 You know, 00:28:08.506 --> 00:28:10.428 let's make sure that we're making 00:28:10.488 --> 00:28:11.588 some decisions and 00:28:11.648 --> 00:28:13.330 attracting money into some 00:28:13.351 --> 00:28:14.351 of those investment areas. 00:28:15.071 --> 00:28:16.753 And then transport, which, again, 00:28:16.814 --> 00:28:18.174 is a real passion and I 00:28:18.234 --> 00:28:22.357 know is... I hope that we 00:28:22.618 --> 00:28:24.460 have some very sensible 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:26.481 conversations around the 00:28:26.541 --> 00:28:28.344 impact and how do we make 00:28:28.463 --> 00:28:29.924 sure that getting around 00:28:29.984 --> 00:28:30.885 the north of England... 00:28:31.756 --> 00:28:33.116 is less costly. 00:28:33.596 --> 00:28:35.518 It's £363 to get from 00:28:35.557 --> 00:28:37.519 Macclesfield to London on a 00:28:37.578 --> 00:28:38.660 standard ticket. 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:40.181 And you could do the same journey, 00:28:40.641 --> 00:28:41.500 same length of time, 00:28:41.601 --> 00:28:43.041 same distance in the south for £36, 00:28:43.041 --> 00:28:44.942 just to give you a little 00:28:44.962 --> 00:28:45.763 bit of an indication. 00:28:46.884 --> 00:28:49.846 So there's a lot of work to 00:28:49.885 --> 00:28:51.126 do on the transport. 00:28:51.186 --> 00:28:52.688 And I'm pleased to say our partners, 00:28:52.728 --> 00:28:53.448 Transport for the North, 00:28:53.508 --> 00:28:54.729 are doing a lot of work around that. 00:28:55.088 --> 00:28:56.769 So yes, those would be my priorities. 00:28:57.616 --> 00:28:58.377 But I would just like to 00:28:58.438 --> 00:29:00.179 mention Nature North as well, 00:29:00.219 --> 00:29:01.039 because they're doing a lot. 00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:03.382 So let's make sure we have a nature view. 00:29:03.642 --> 00:29:04.402 So many things. 00:29:05.682 --> 00:29:06.443 And those nature-based 00:29:06.463 --> 00:29:07.424 solutions in terms of the 00:29:07.444 --> 00:29:08.065 net zero agenda are 00:29:08.085 --> 00:29:09.145 obviously so important. 00:29:10.047 --> 00:29:12.729 And then just finally, the final word, 00:29:13.028 --> 00:29:13.990 we'll see this talk then 00:29:14.029 --> 00:29:14.630 about in terms of 00:29:14.829 --> 00:29:16.211 engagement with national 00:29:16.250 --> 00:29:17.432 government and what the priorities are. 00:29:17.952 --> 00:29:18.712 But is there any advice 00:29:18.752 --> 00:29:21.015 you'd give to local areas in terms of... 00:29:22.717 --> 00:29:24.499 then be able to drive local 00:29:24.558 --> 00:29:25.359 growth agendas locally, 00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:26.200 and I guess in particular 00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:27.422 in terms of them developing 00:29:27.481 --> 00:29:29.083 their local growth strategies. 00:29:30.243 --> 00:29:31.325 We've got about a minute. 00:29:32.046 --> 00:29:36.210 Okay, so focusing on the vision, 00:29:37.111 --> 00:29:39.573 prioritise, make a decision, 00:29:40.253 --> 00:29:41.035 improve planning. 00:29:43.208 --> 00:29:43.647 Yeah, okay. 00:29:43.929 --> 00:29:44.709 And I'll just add to that, 00:29:44.769 --> 00:29:45.930 make sure you've got the 00:29:45.970 --> 00:29:46.830 pipeline of investable 00:29:46.871 --> 00:29:48.692 propositions to back it up. 00:29:48.912 --> 00:29:49.712 It's one thing having the 00:29:49.732 --> 00:29:50.512 words and it's another 00:29:50.532 --> 00:29:53.556 thing the projects and the opportunities. 00:29:55.136 --> 00:29:55.737 Okay, Claire, 00:29:55.797 --> 00:29:57.278 that's been a really 00:29:57.318 --> 00:29:58.259 fascinating discussion. 00:29:58.338 --> 00:30:00.340 Thank you ever so much for your time. 00:30:01.101 --> 00:30:01.821 And thank you all to the 00:30:01.862 --> 00:30:03.722 audience as well for participating. 00:30:04.723 --> 00:30:05.785 We've got further sessions 00:30:05.845 --> 00:30:07.726 planned this week and next week. 00:30:08.146 --> 00:30:08.926 We're going to be turning 00:30:08.946 --> 00:30:11.209 our attention to the transport side, 00:30:11.229 --> 00:30:12.410 including sessions on 00:30:13.328 --> 00:30:14.829 transport policy, on rail, 00:30:15.069 --> 00:30:17.251 on bus franchising as well. 00:30:17.271 --> 00:30:19.153 So if you haven't already signed up, 00:30:19.373 --> 00:30:21.474 then please do visit our 00:30:21.515 --> 00:30:24.616 website steer.com. 00:30:25.457 --> 00:30:26.538 And without further ado, 00:30:26.657 --> 00:30:28.618 I'll just say thanks again to Claire. 00:30:28.739 --> 00:30:30.279 Good luck with all the 00:30:30.299 --> 00:30:30.740 challenges and 00:30:30.760 --> 00:30:32.241 opportunities you've got in 00:30:32.882 --> 00:30:34.242 driving forward that Northern ambition. 00:30:35.124 --> 00:30:36.324 And thanks to you all. 00:30:38.086 --> 00:30:38.546 Thank you, Josh.