Member Article

RTC North calls on businesses to get involved in Northern Powerhouse Partnership

After being chosen to help drive the Northern Powerhouse Partnership’s skills and innovation agenda, Sunderland-based business support organisation RTC North is calling on companies in the region to make their voices heard and get involved.

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership brings together regional, national and international companies from across the North, which have pledged to work with the Government to help the North achieve its full potential of attracting new jobs and investment to the region.

Skills and innovation is one of three key strands of the Partnership. The others focus on transport and connectivity, and quality of life improvements.

Andrew Buckley, chief executive for RTC North, said: “Innovation and skills development play to RTC’s proven strengths. We have been working with many companies to transform their potential through innovation, taking ideas from first stage through to successful commercialisation. In doing so, we help to retain many talented people and boost high quality jobs in the north.

“We want talented local companies to come forward with their ideas and get involved with the Partnership. The stronger the voice of the Partnership, the more impact it can make.

“Across the North there are many businesses with strong ideas which we want to hear about. The more businesses that join the Partnership the better, and the more impact we will have to help attract further investment and action to help companies and the region to thrive.”

Companies which have signed up to the Northern Powerhouse Partnership include Siemens, Barclays Bank, Deloitte, Manchester Airport, PD Ports, the Peel Group, Atkins Global and the Northern Health Service Alliance.

Andrew Buckley said: “We’re delighted to be involved in driving the innovation and skills strand for the Powerhouse Partnership. These two issues are key to the creation of a sustainable, confident economic future for the region.

“Skills development from schools and higher education through to in-house training underpins an adaptable, up to date, motivated workforce. Partnerships between cities, businesses and universities are becoming even more important in creating a highly skilled, innovation-driven future.”

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, Andrew Percy, said at the first Partnership meeting: “We are determined to back business growth across the Northern Powerhouse to create an economy that works for everyone. We have some of the best businesses and talent in the world.

“So I’m delighted that over 50 leading businesses are signed up and raring to go to make the most of all the region has to offer, in a real show of force for the North.”