THIS year is going to be an important one for the North East if the Government is to deliver on its pledge to rebalance the economy.
The North East Chamber of Commerce this week published Taking the Lead – our manifesto for the year ahead – in which we set out four key areas that must be addressed if businesses are to maximise their potential and build on impressive performance in export markets, further develop green credentials and fulfil our capacity to grow and play a greater role in delivering economic growth for the UK.
Taking the Lead calls on the Government to do more to strengthen the North East’s private sector by championing North East business; developing regional infrastructure; supporting competitiveness of businesses; and removing barriers to help firms meet their potential.
The North East economy is a problem that the UK needs to solve. Rather, it is an asset which it needs to be realised.
Rebalancing the economy does not mean restricting the performance of any other part of the country, but enabling the North East to fulfil its economic potential and produce a stronger return for UK plc.
To make the most of the North East’s outstanding export performance, and build on key regional strengths in manufacturing, then our businesses must be empowered to innovate, sell and invest more.
For these reasons, we are challenging ourselves, our members, Local Enterprise Partnerships, local authorities and other public agencies, and the Government to do more to strengthen the North East’s private-sector economy.
The manifesto represents NECC’s agenda for 2012 and is a call to arms for regional business and the public sector to work together and ensure the region is at the forefront of the economic recovery.
We are very clear about what it is that North East businesses want in order to create jobs, encourage new investment and generate success, and the challenge for the next year is to maintain and accelerate the growth that businesses have started to deliver in 2011.
Radical steps are required to stimulate private-sector employment at a time when growth in private- sector jobs is being more than offset by cuts in the public sector with youth unemployment cause for mayor concern.
James Ramsbotham is chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce
