A coalition of Northern and national businesses, from SMES to large firms and leading industry bodies, and creative industry leaders have backed The Great North, a new partnership that will unlock a new era of jobs, opportunity and prosperity for the North.
The Great North was launched at the opening night of UKReiiF (Monday 19 May), the UK’s leading investment summit, by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness as chair of The Great North, fellow Northern Metro Mayors, and received Government backing from the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
Now businesses spanning all regions across the North have voiced their support for The Great North as a vehicle to drive growth for UK PLC and its investment opportunities in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, creative and digital, and life sciences.
The CBI, British Chambers of Commerce and Northern Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses and The Northern Powerhouse Partnership have backed The Great North.
Chair of The Great North, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “Mayors, businesses, the government and creative industries stand ready to unleash the limitless potential of the North.
“We are united in our vision and determination to bring jobs, investment and opportunity right across the North for people, businesses and places and create a more prosperous, secure future.
“When we work together, we can achieve amazing things, and The Great North marks a landmark moment where we seize control of our economic destiny and stand tall on the national and international stage.”
A report for the partnership reveals £118 billion could be added to the UK economy, with the right government investments at the Spending Review. One The Great North’s priorities is backing the north’s creative industries, and the partnership published a report by Jude Kelly CBE outlining its potential to attract investment and jobs across the North.
The Great North will act as a vehicle for pan-northern collaboration to attract investment for the North, providing a powerful, internationally recognisable brand, leading trade missions and hosting a new Northern Investment Summit to champion the opportunity and potential of the North’s 15 million people and regions.
A joint statement from the British Chambers of Commerce and 12 Northern Chambers of Commerce said:
“As Chambers of Commerce representing businesses across the North, we are pleased to support the new mayoral-led partnership of the Great North.
“We welcome the ambition to bring local government, business and academia together under a unified Northern identity, creating the scale, visibility and positive impact needed to drive meaningful investment, trade and innovation. This is a credible and collaborative approach to pan-regional working, one that is shaped and led by the North, on behalf of the North.
“The partnership reflects a shared ambition to raise the profile of our region, supporting inclusive growth and ensuring that opportunity reaches all parts of our region by harnessing the contribution of our cities, towns and rural communities. The North has the skilled people, assets, innovation and ambition to compete on a national and global stage.
“As a network rooted in business, we are ready and able to contribute to the partnership’s success to help ensure it delivers practical outcomes for the businesses and communities we represent.”
Rain Newton-Smith, CEO, CBI (Confederation of British Industry), said:
“The Great North is a partnership that will help unlock the economic potential of our northern cities, towns and communities. Mayors are right to put collaboration above competition. Their collective voice is key for promoting and achieving our shared vision of sustainable and inclusive growth across the North of England.
“From boosting trade and investment, to strengthening pan-regional transport infrastructure, to highlighting its culture and tourism offer, there are many aspects to ensuring the North becomes greater than the sum of its parts. The CBI welcomes this cross-regional collaboration, which will showcase the North’s strengths on the international stage in an ever-more competitive and uncertain global market.
“Our members and teams – across the North East, North West, and Yorkshire & Humber – will support the success of The Great North. Catalysed by Mayors, it is the private sector that can provide investment at the pace and scale needed to lift productivity, create jobs and improve living standards across the North.”
National Chair at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Darlington-based business owner, Martin McTague, said:
“As the UK’s grassroots business network, FSB is pleased to support the creation of The Great North, a collaborative partnership to drive growth, attract investment and generate jobs across the north of England. Delivering sustainable and inclusive economic growth and opportunities across the entire geography is not only an exciting opportunity, but an economic imperative – growing the Northern economy will help grow the UK economy as a whole.
“The north of England is full of entrepreneurial spirit and ambition, and small firms across the regions play a huge role in driving innovation, creativity and productivity. This new partnership of northern Mayors will build on the momentum of regional delivery through devolution, ensuring the benefits and opportunities are felt by all communities in every town, city, rural and coastal community.
“FSB teams and members in the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber are excited to be part of The Great North, working together with partners to shine a spotlight on every corner of the north, and ultimately breaking down barriers to generate jobs, growth and productivity.”
Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said:
“As the organisation founded to bring together businesses and investors committed to transforming northern productivity, we strongly welcome the launch of The Great North. It reflects what business expects: a shared, strategic approach that brings together local leaders to promote the North as greater than the sum of its parts.
“By aligning around our core economic strengths, from energy and advanced manufacturing to life sciences and digital innovation, we can make a more powerful case to government and international investors alike. Greater coordination across regions will help accelerate major projects and give business the long-term certainty it needs to invest.
“This new partnership sends a strong signal at a critical time. As we approach the spending review and beyond, we look forward to working with The Great North as two partnerships of Mayors and of business respectively pursuing our shared ambitions.”
Jude Kelly CBE, author of the One Creative North report, said:
“Helping to create a vision for One Creative North has convinced me more than ever of the amazing opportunity for growth in these rich and vibrant communities. The North contains all the talent needed to create an astonishing future.”
Edna Robinson, Chair of the People’s Powerhouse, said:
“The strength of the North lies in its unity, its people, and its purpose. Today the North’s mayors are not just shaping policy — they’re shaping possibility. The Great North is a bold new step forward, powered by Northern leadership and grounded in the voices of its communities. The People’s Powerhouse has been there every step of the way — listening, convening, and championing those voices — to ensure no one is left on the sidelines and that what we build together reflects the realities of everyday life. We’re delighted to be involved and look forward to the coming opportunities.”
