Cumbria's business community represents its interests at the Convention of the North
Cumbria LEP arranged for a strong delegation of Cumbrian business leaders to join the Convention of the North and NP11 event in Liverpool.
This considered the implications of the Levelling Up White Paper for the North and how the North could maximise the benefits that it presented.
The Convention took place at The Spine, Paddington Village, Liverpool, with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the Rt Hon Michael Gove, delivering its keynote speech.
Civic, business and community leaders from all over the north, including Metro Mayors, Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Chairs, CEOs and politicians, took part in the discussions, which were live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.
More than two years since the last Convention of the North with NP11, the event focused on ways in which the region can benefit the whole UK by leading the fourth industrial revolution and the nation’s transition to net zero, by unleashing its full potential to create green jobs and lead on key areas such as clean energy generation and health innovation.
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) Chair Lord Inglewood helped introduce a Policy Breakout session on Place, Culture and Housing, outlining the role that the Cumbria LEP and colleagues in North Yorks and Yorkshire had played in developing the NP11’s ‘A Place Strategy for the North’, in partnership with Arts Council England, Environment Agency, Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Consultation on the draft document was kick-started at the Convention.
Lord Inglewood said: “It was important that Cumbria was represented at this event to demonstrate the role that areas outside of the City Regions and Mayoral Combined Authorities play in delivering economic growth in the North.
“Areas such as Cumbria also have an important contribution to the Levelling Up agenda, which the Secretary of State described as a ‘moral, economic and social’ imperative.
“It was excellent that Cumbria’s interests were represented by such a strong delegation of business leaders, who were able to promote the county’s interests throughout the day.
“The North is uniquely positioned to respond to current national and global priorities, including Global Britain and the UK Plan for Growth.
“Here in Cumbria, our wealth of green space and peatlands represents significant natural capital opportunities and underpins our significant contribution to sustainability, Clean Growth and Net Zero objectives.”
Key speakers on the day included Northern Metro Mayors, prominent business figures and LEP and Council leaders.