Positives to Take for a Turbulent 2023
Date published:
The latest column for The Journal by Callum George, Policy Adviser at the North East England Chamber of Commerce.
I don’t have to tell anyone how tough 2022 was, both for employees and employers in the region. From the aftermath of Covid at the start of the year, to the soaring prices, industrial action, and multiple changes in government; people are right to be concerned going into the new year.
Putting our worries aside though, I still believe there are better days ahead, and as a Chamber we’ll certainly highlight things to be positive about where we can.
Whilst I was fortunate enough to still be stuffing my face with chocolates at the time, the North East received some important, yet fantastic, news over the Christmas period. The government has announced a landmark devolution deal for the North East, which includes most of the region’s local councils. For some of you, this will mean your first time voting for a mayor, but it’s so much more than that.
The deal comes with funding in key areas of our local economy, such as education, broadband connectivity, and public transport. It also includes investment in key sectors such as green energy, culture and tourism, and digital. This will hopefully create new opportunities for businesses, and those looking for the next step in their career.
As a more immediate win going into the new year, we are also seeing support for those who rely on public transport in the face of ever-increasing fares. If like me, you’ve lived in Consett and used public transport for your commute, you probably understand this all too well. Gone are the days of the much-loved – and dearly missed – ‘three pound get-around’, although even that’s a very distant memory.
Until the end of March, the government has announced that most single bus trips will be capped at £2, with Nexus announcing that their Pop cards will also follow these caps. This is hugely welcomed as it takes pressure off many workers feeling the pinch on their way to work.
As I’ve said though, these are just a handful of positives to take, in a much larger picture of concern. As a Chamber we’ll be working to ensure devolution creates positives for businesses across the North East in 2023, as well as advocating for continued energy bill support for sectors that need it the most.