North East Independent Economic Review

1. North East Independent Economic Review Tuesday 20th November 2012 Kate Roe, Deputy Chief Executive Economic Prosperity and Strategic Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee

2. Review commissioned by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) Supported by the Deputy Prime Minister Aims to look ahead to 2030 and recommend priority actions to enhance employment and productivity in future Recommendations will be a focal point to drive change within the LEP and also secure support from Government There are six cross cutting economic themes Background

3. Who’s undertaking the review • High profile independent review team • NELEP facilitating with in kind support from multiple partners in the area • Northumbria and Sunderland Universities leading evidence gathering • Newcastle and Durham Universities supporting an ‘Expert Panel’ considering key themes and providing challenge to the review team • Encouraging sectoral and business representative organisations to input expert views

4. Review Team • Chair - Lord Andrew Adonis, formerly Secretary of State for Transport and Minister for Schools • Will Hutton, former editor in chief of the Observer, now chair of the Big Innovation Centre and principal of Hertford College, Oxford • Heidi Mottram, CEO Northumbrian Water and a member of the CBI’s national infrastructure panel • Lord Don Curry, leading businessman and chair of NFU Mutual • Bridget Rosewell, economist and chair of Volterra Partners • the Right Reverend Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham, is no longer involved due to his new role

5. October visit • First time the review team met together • Provided opportunity for Lord Adonis to meet a wide variety of stakeholders, focused on the business community. • Northumberland hosted a valuable rural business meeting, attended by 25 key businesses and partners • Overall topics and groups covered during the four days included:

6. Output and Timescales Outputs • 5 strategic interventions over the next five years for each of the following: Government, NELEP and partners locally Timescales: • First phase tour and initial discussions complete • Literature Review and call for evidence open until 10th January 2013 • Review team members leading on thematic topics • Expert panel being developed • Further events planned as review progresses in January and February • Final recommendations prepared by Spring 2013 to submit to the Deputy Prime Minister

7. Potential key issues for Northumberland • Full coverage of superfast broadband • Flexible skills and employment provision models to boost access and opportunity • Transport and housing infrastructure improvements linked to wider national and European routes • Enterprise stimulation, business development and support which enables SMEs and large companies with potential to grow • Recognition of the need for rurally sensitive growth policies and funding and the value of rural growth in Government

8. How to get involved • LA responses will go directly to the Review Team. NCC will also have the opportunity to consider the recommendations as a member of the LEP Board • The call for evidence is being co-ordinated by the Regional Universities as follows: • University of Northumbria: Service, retail, design, digital, creative and tourism sectors. Andrew Sugden (andrew.sugden@northumbria.ac.uk). • University of Sunderland: manufacturing, engineering, pharmaceuticals, offshore renewable and energy sectors as well as primary industries and construction. Martin Finlayson (martin.finlayson@sunderland.ac.uk). • Other organisations are also assisting on other themes and topics e.g. Centre for Rural Economy is preparing a response through the North East Farming and Rural Advisory Network, (NCC is a founding member). • NELEP are doing a gap analysis seeking to ensure the widest possible involvement • The LEP team are acting as a central point of contact regarding the review - James Davies (James.Davies@nelep.co.uk)