Growing the Powerhouse

The Government’s Industrial Strategy outlines its priorities for stimulating and future proofing economic growth. At the core of this new agenda is a focus on sectors – namely high-value, high skill sectors – rather than on ‘place’.

 

Some stakeholders rue the limited weight given to place, particularly because the Northern Powerhouse has lagged behind the rest of the country in recent years. However, it is well positioned to capitalise on the new priorities set out in the Industrial Strategy. It is benefitting from new trade and inward investment resources and has a competitive edge in many target growth sectors, such as Knowledge Intensive Services and Advanced Manufacturing.

 

Harnessing the opportunities requires further collaboration across the Northern Powerhouse: aligning sector strengths with global opportunities and negotiating sector deals with Government that reflect the needs of business to reposition the Northern Powerhouse’s competitiveness.