Unlocking our future
Date published:
By Rhiannon Bearne, deputy chief executive
Late last month, I had the pleasure of joining over 100 businesses, charities, public sector organisations, MPs and councillors to unveil the North East Chamber of Commerce’s new policy plan. Entitled Unlocking the North East Economy 2025–27, our new plan seeks to do just that – to set out clear, targeted and practical measures the region and government can adopt to boost growth, develop talent and give our children and young people an excellent start in life.
Built on six pillars, the plan covers everything from securing quality jobs and clean energy to connectivity and trade. The plan also has people at its heart, describing interventions and actions to support workforce wellbeing, take action on child poverty and strengthen equity, diversity and inclusion.
Unlocking the North East Economy has been built through a rich set of conversations, talking to businesses and employers across the Chamber’s membership from Teesside to Northumberland, as well as stakeholders inside and outside the region. Through these conversations, I’ve heard first-hand some of the challenges they face right now – higher costs of doing business combined with a changing national and international landscape.
I’ve heard lots of positivity and energy, too. Our members have delivered a clear and consistent vision on which levers of growth to unlock now – funding for skills, support for SME’s, action on planning and help for our high streets. This has been combined with strong stories about the industries of our future, like Net Zero and artificial intelligence. I’ve loved hearing about the things that make the region unique – our beautiful coastline, rich heritage and a cultural offer which is second to none.
So the ask of the Chamber has been clear. Don’t build another shopping list for the government of important but ultimately unfunded promises. Create a collection of credible calls to action which we can deliver ourselves – through local and regional action, across business sectors and sizes, and from within our communities.
As the region’s Chamber of Commerce, we know our power is in our network: the connections we help forge, the opportunities we enable and the conversations we start. Unlocking the North East is about the role we can all play, helping to build a region which works for all.