Member Article

North East Northern Powerhouse insight: Richard Deas, SearchBI

In an ongoing series, Jamie Hardesty is talking to North East business leaders in an attempt to understand the region’s feelings towards the government’s Northern Powerhouse initiative.

This investigation, surveying regional business opinion, hopes to add coherence to the concept and today we present the views of SearchBI director Richard Deas, who weighs in with his views as an IT recruiter on the huge potential that a Northern Powerhouse could unleash.

What does the Northern Powerhouse mean to you?

Working right across the region and beyond, I can see that North East England’s inclusion within a well constructed Northern Powerhouse, which gives us more autonomy and control in decision making, will only help to secure success, aiding the retention of the brightest and ablest in the region and stopping them from moving away to London and the South East in search of work.

Are there signs of the Northern Powerhouse starting to bear fruit in the region?

Difficult to see anything at the moment, so clearly more has to be done and sooner rather than later if the project here in the region is perceived as making any progress. This will also produce greater visibility so that people will see for themselves that things are actually starting to happening and understand better what it all means for them - communications is key here.

Has the government done enough to convince you of its commitment to Osborne’s vision?

The Chancellor certainly needs to do more to convince I think. The talk is about Manchester and Leeds but I would like to see more about the North East’s role - and a more dynamic, fluid northern business culture founded upon entrepreneurial-based and mutually beneficial partnerships, where vested interests are put aside in favour of a common good with economic advantages and growth for all to share in.

Transport improvement is intrinsic to the Northern Powerhouse. Do you believe that spending billions of infrastructure will improve Northern productivity?

HS2 AND HS3 is a big issue. While the superfast travel links that are being talked of between London and Leeds and Manchester will undoubtedly reap rich reward, I do worry about Newcastle’s omission from its place at the decision making table. It’s well documented that success hinges on the massive investment into travel, and for Newcastle in particular this is crucial given that we are further removed from the seat of a Northern Powerhouse than any of our co-members. The region needs to remain a player in the movement or it will be danger of being frozen out or becoming competition rather than an ally.

Are there any other areas, which you believe money should be spent on, ahead of transport?

Continued investment in training and access to education to close the regional skills’ gap will see more focus and investment in equipping people with the technology skills to secure our collective future workforce needs. We need to improve training in the region to meet the growing demand – if we can’t fulfil the need, companies will go elsewhere. I would also like to see more tax relief for companies with high numbers of employees to encourage a culture of hiring from local talent rather than outsourcing.

Does the North East need a mayor? If so, who should it be?

If having a mayor means a greater voice for the region on the national stage with some allied powers that have the bite to make a difference, then it has to be welcomed. At the minute I am not particular about who it should be but unity and vision must be high their agenda to make a strong case for the region when negotiating with Government.

Will the Northern Powerhouse be realised in the North East?

I don’t see why it shouldn’t. The North East has prided itself on its rich industrial heritage and a history hewn from hard work, opportunities realised and an unrelenting capacity for excellence. The Northern Powerhouse is the digital age’s equivalent of our forebears’ industrial revolution. I’m sure we can, and will, grasp the opportunity with both hands.

Thank you Richard.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →