Member update - North East Economic Partnership

Service Network members may have seen the recent media coverage on proposals being made to Central Government for the establishment in the region of a new "North East Economic Partnership". These proposals are being put forward jointly by Northern Business Forum (NBF) and the Association of North East Councils (ANEC).

Northern Business Forum includes the key business representation bodies in the region in particular the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses, Engineering Employers Federation, and the North East Chamber of Commerce, and sector specific bodies including Service Network (North East) and NEPIC.

Working collectively with the 12 Local Authorities in the North East under the ANEC banner, NBF has now delivered its submission to Government.

ANEC and NBF are hopeful that the new North East body will be operational within the next six months and, working with business led sub-regional Local Enterprise Partnerships, will position the North East to maximise its share of Government's planned £1billion Regional Growth Fund.

The proposal for the North East Economic Partnership suggests to Government how six key functions should be taken forward on a regional basis; these functions are:

• The promotion of productivity, enterprise and business growth through developing innovation and exploiting research and development capabilities;
• The development of sectors that are strategic to the UK and are clustered in the North East, such as low carbon vehicles, offshore wind, chemicals and process industries;
• Account managing and supporting enquiries for new investment from both existing businesses and inward investors;
• Bidding for and programme managing the European Regional Development Funds and the Rural Development Programme for England funds in the region;
• The development and delivery of new approaches to financing and supporting business growth; and
• Providing strategic input on other key related areas linked to economic growth such as integrated transport and energy investment.

The deadline for submission of the proposal to Government was 6 September 2010 and whilst this key date has been met there is still much work to do and a considerable amount of detail to develop.

Business leadership and business engagement are key tenets of the new Coalition Government's plans. Neil Warwick, Partner at Dickinson Dees and Chair of Service Network, has been central to NBF and ANEC negotiations to date and will be leading consultation with Service Network members to ensure that everyone has their chance to have their say - for the good of the region and for the good of the service sector in the region.