The Northern Powerhouse Partnership

A new report released today highlights the huge economic benefits that the construction of Old Oak Common station is bringing to West London—boosting the local economy by £10bn, creating thousands of jobs, and driving regeneration. It raises the question: What opportunities has the North lost following the cancellation of the Manchester leg of HS2? Investment in major infrastructure projects delivers real, long-term economic growth—and we want to see the North benefit in the same way. NPP Chief Exec, Henri Murison, responds in Manchester Evening News: https://lnkd.in/eZWyZgej Joseph Timan

Rolls-Royce SMR have announced a major partnership with Siemens Energy to deliver the turbine systems package for its global fleet of factory-built Small Modular Reactors. This represents a significant step forward and strengthens the UK’s position as a leader in SMR technology. It also means more investment, jobs, and supply chain opportunities, particularly in the North. As SMRs move closer to deployment, investment in the supply chain and workforce skills will be key to ensuring the full economic benefits are realised. With the right policy support, the North can be at the heart of the UK’s clean energy transition.

"Doing nothing is not an option" - Henri Murison speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria about the need to introduce a tourist tax in the Lake District to support local infrastructure. 🔊 Listen here:

There is increasing criticism that policies aimed at decarbonisation are leading to deindustrialisation, exacerbating spatial inequalities in economic performance and opportunities. There is certainly evidence that in many places that is the case. But some regions are bucking the trend. Some interesting and timely analysis shared by Dan Olner shows that #Yorkshire and the #Humber is the one region that has seen a growth in manufacturing employment in recent years (2015-2022). In particular the Humber has experienced the strongest growth in manufacturing employment of any part of the UK. Hull and East Yorkshire are also experiencing some of the fastest productivity growth in the north of England. The Humber is also one of the most carbon intensive economies in the UK, responsible for 37% of the UK’s industrial and process carbon emissions. So how is the region growing manufacturing employment? The simple answer is: strong and farsighted economic leadership and a clear economic strategy. The Humber has a coherent economic vision to use industrial and energy system decarbonisation as an economic opportunity. The region is arguably the largest offshore wind opportunity in North West Europe, and has huge potential to deploy Carbon Capture Usage and Storage at scale. Through excellent leadership and work by the region’s four local authorities and the private sector, along with great work by the Humber Freeport, Humber Energy Board major investments in high value economic activity have been attracted from the likes of Siemens in #Hull and #Goole, Ørsted in #Grimsby, Reckitt in Hull, and Croda in Goole. Whether it is off-shore wind turbines, rail rolling stock, next generation carbon fibre bicycles, or the lipid nanoparticles essential for MRNA vaccines, it is being (or will be) manufactured in the Humber. This is only the start; there are many more investment projects in the pipeline. And with the new Combined Authorities in Hull and East Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire, working together with the private sector with the Humber Economic Strategy and Investment Plan (that Arup are supporting on), the future is bright.

On Wednesday, we were pleased to attend the launch of the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMMIC) at The Manchester Metropolitan University . It was great to hear from Chris Olley at Siemens who said this was a "perfect example of how innoation can be a catalyst for economic growth" and Professor Jennie Shorley who emphasised the need to ensure businesses have the neccessary skills to "really fly" with the technology that is available. We look forward to seeing the impact of AMMIC will have in years to come.

"The Snake Pass is a vital thoroughfare. Alongside the limited capacity and low frequency of trains on the Hope Valley line, both the road and rail connections between Sheffield and Manchester fall far short of what anyone here in the North, or anywhere in the country, should have to put up with." – Henri Murison, Chief Executive, Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Our research has shown the degree to which towns situated between Leeds/Bradford and Manchester have benefited from their strategic location, and with improved connectivity, Glossop and the surrounding areas could see similar gains. That is why NPP is backing High Peak's bid to move into the North and are calling for significant investment in infrastructure to unlock growth. Read the full story in The i Paper: https://lnkd.in/ePn2-KU9

This is a clear statement of intent from the Government that will pave the way for the UK to re-establish itself as a global leader in nuclear. #SMR #RollsRoyceSMR #Nuclear

Liverpool is a city of innovation, and Mersey Festival is here to celebrate it! 🎉 Find out more about it below and learn how businesses can get involved. 👇 #MerseyFestival

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership welcomes today’s announcement on nuclear energy from the Government:

I've voiced our support for plans to speed up new nuclear developments in today's announcement by UK Government. The proposed changes to lengthy planning processes would help to bring forward new projects faster, strengthening supply chains and creating jobs and skills across the country.    The UK needs firm baseload power from large GW reactors like Sizewell C alongside the agility that SMRs could provide the energy system, so we've welcomed the intent to streamline the system and increase the ability of developers to deliver a fleet approach of new plants and realise the potential efficiencies through replication.    Nuclear will help to achieve the UK's AI ambitions, bolster our energy security and enable the sustainable development of towns, cities and industries across the UK: building the right technology in the right locations is vital to power the UK’s growth agenda and meet our net zero goals. https://lnkd.in/g4qjGYQa   #NetZeroNeedsNuclear AtkinsRéalis