Today marks the launch of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, a think tank designed to help maintain the momentum of the Northern Powerhouse and raise the prosperity of the north of England.
The Northern Powerhouse has been described as a compelling vision to enable the cities and counties of the north of England to become greater than the sum of their parts and compete together on an international stage. To help bring jobs and higher living standard to local people in the north - and it is hoped it means giving people a much greater say over how their communities are run.
The independent not-for-profit partnership will be chaired by George Osborne MP, who first outlined the Northern Powerhouse concept in a keynote speech in June 2014 and was a key exponent of the vision.
Its business-led board will feature influential business figures from across the North of England. There will also be political representation to ensure city leaders are represented.
The partnership's role will include advocating for the Northern Powerhouse as a fundamental part of the UK’s industrial strategy and promoting new ideas which will help the region’s 16 million people to share in its growing success.
The Rt Hon George Osborne MP, said: “There's a real excitement now in the north about what we can achieve if we work together. I don't want us to lose that. That's why I'm so pleased major businesses, civic leaders and others have worked with me to create this new Northern Powerhouse Partnership.”