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NELEP Survey: Have your say in shaping the region's economic future

In March 2014, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership unveiled its North East Strategic Economic Plan – a route towards economic success.

Fast-forward to July 2016 and we find ourselves in a very different economic climate. It’s for this reason – in partnership with the North East Combined Authority – we have chosen to refresh the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP).

If we are to continue to grow the North East economy and create more and better jobs, it’s vital we react and respond to the changing economic and political landscape.

Key to its success is the input and involvement from partners in all areas of industry across the region. We want to hear people’s thoughts, comments and ideas about how we move forward with the refreshed SEP and continue the growth our economy has enjoyed in recent years.

Get involved

That’s why we’ve launched an online survey comprising of 21 key questions, including thoughts on the potential impact of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union and the prospect of a devolution deal. The feedback we receive will help shape the SEP refresh and contribute substantially to the evidence base, credibility and application of the refreshed SEP.

To help respondents answer the questions we’ve produced three papers that communicate the current position of the North East economy and the delivery of the SEP priorities between March 2014 and March 2016.

The economic analysis paper is available to read here and a progress review can be viewed here. Our third paper is a helpful summary of the economic analysis paper and progress review. It’s recommended respondents read our engagement paper – available here - before completing the survey.

The survey questions cover a breadth of key issues relating to how we progress the development of the SEP. From economic performance and progress of the current SEP to smart specialisation areas and economic geography, the feedback we receive will help shape our refreshed vision for the North East.

Respondents are not required to answer all the questions. If a person’s knowledge and expertise is more relevant to a specific section, we’d encourage them to focus their time there.

Click here to start the online survey.

We should stress this is not a SEP rewrite, but a look again at how we reach our ambitious target of creating an extra 100,000 more and better jobs by 2024. We are examining with sharp focus our opportunities to be competitive nationally and internationally in the smart specialisation areas and growth sectors.

These are passenger vehicle manufacture, subsea, marine and related advanced manufacturing, life sciences and health and creative, digital software and technology based services.

We are looking to see high levels of productivity in these areas and to work out our position within the Northern Powerhouse to ensure we have the strong profile our region needs to seize maximum advantage from the opportunities it presents.

Given the recent EU referendum result, there has never been a better time to consult opinion on our region’s future. The SEP is our medium-term economic plan for the North East LEP area so it’s vital it steers us in the right direction.

The SEP refresh will provide us with a clearer focus going forward, one that will help create more and better jobs for the North East.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Coward .