10 IN VIEW
Views from Westminster
THREE STEPS ON THE LEVELLING UP JOURNEY
by Antony Higginbotham Member of Parliament for Burnley
The Northern Research Group (NRG) met for its first conference in Doncaster in June.
Made up of Conservative MPs from across the north of England, particularly from those constituencies that turned blue for the first time in 2019, it exists to lobby for the region and ensure government delivers on its levelling-up agenda. It is becoming one of the most influential groups in British politics.
The conference brought together more than 300 MPs, businesses, lobby groups, the media, and government ministers, including chancellor Rishi Sunak and levelling up secretary Michael Gove.
Three big policy asks came out of the conference and will shape our lobbying efforts. The first will ensure a fair level of investment. The north, when combined, has an economy that is roughly the ninth biggest in the whole of Europe – surpassing Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland combined.
But this is not reflected in spend, with areas like London receiving 15 per cent more per head in government investment than the UK average. Creating a new levelling-up formula, similar to the Barnett formula which provides funding for Scotland and Wales,
would address this and ensure that we use this once in a lifetime opportunity to rebalance the economy and delivery of public services.
The second ask will accelerate the devolution agenda. Since the role of London mayor was established in 2000 there has been a trickle of devolution plans, including expanding metro mayors, creating police and crime commissioners, and some local government reorganisation.
But we remain one of the most centralised developed countries in the world. Creating a presumption in favour of devolution, where it has the support of MPs, councils, and business groups, would rectify this. Matched with economic powers, like the ability to give tax breaks to certain industries, it would allow clusters to be created to compete on the world stage.
Finally, we must put academic and vocational education on an equal footing. Progress is being made, with new institutes of technology more focused on vocations. But there remains work to do to change the culture.
The north, and Lancashire in particular, has so much going for it. The challenge is to ensure our asks are communicated clearly and persuasively to government and that is what the NRG is all about.
AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNEY WITH GREAT POSSIBILITIES
Businesses across the North West have been urged to take the first steps to exporting and to harness all the support that is available to help them on that journey.
Chris McFarlane Baxter, trade advisor at the Department for International Trade, told a conference attended by business leaders from across the region: “Your customers can be anywhere.”
The event at Bolton Whites Hotel, hosted by Lancashire Business View magazine in association with the DIT, focused on how companies start out on their international trade journey and where it can take them.
Chris, who is responsible for the implementation of the government’s export academy programme
across the North West, said: “If you have products or services that sell in the UK you can find markets elsewhere.”
The event was the latest in a series organised by the magazine in association with DIT. An earlier breakfast conference at Lancaster House Hotel in Lancaster heard how growing numbers of SME businesses across the region are tapping into financial support available from the DIT to fuel their export journeys.
It focused on how companies can finance their international ambitions and businesses shared their experiences of how support had helped them.
It also highlighted the wider range of support and expertise available from the DIT and other organisations to help businesses begin or
expand their overseas trade, including the Internationalisation Fund which is available to SMEs, with match-funding of up to £9,000 available.
The fund can be used for a variety of activities including market research, translation services, market visits, attending trade fairs and consultancy.
Tanya Mulesa, founder of sustainable convertible shoe brand Cleverstein, based in Halton, near Lancaster, said: “Don’t try to do everything by yourself. There are so many people out there who know their stuff when it comes to exporting.
“If you need that help from consultants, go get it and focus on what you are best at, whether that is product development or sales.”
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