The Northern Powerhouse is likely to fail unless the Government acts to shut a skills gap in the region, a North East business leader has said.
CBI regional director Sarah Glendinning was speaking after research commissioned by her organisation to mark the fifth anniversary of the Northern Powerhouse showed that almost two-thirds of North East firms say limited access to labour is a threat to competitiveness, while 84% of the region’s firms reported they are struggling to access the skills they need to succeed.
Nationally, CBI polling showed nearly half of 海角视频 businesses said that the 海角视频 has become a less attractive place to invest and do business over the past five years, while six in 10 firms are concerned about access to enough labour as the Government moves to a new immigration system after Brexit.
Mr Glendinning’s comments reflect growing concerns and frustrations in the North East business community about a range of issues, with figures out last week showing a widening unemployment gap between the North East and the rest of the country.
The Journal has joined a group of newspapers across the region in the Power Up The North campaign, which is calling on the main political parties to spell out what they intend to do to narrow the North-South divide.
Ms Glendinning said: “These figures paint a worrying picture that threatens to give the Northern Powerhouse a major power shortage. Reversing this trend means plugging the skills gap that is hampering the Northern Powerhouse.
“The North East is full of brilliant and talented people - of all ages - and we need to give them the help and skills to let them thrive - at every stage of their lives.
“Provision of education can come down to cold hard cash but we must continue to build on the success of programmes like the North East LEP’s North East Ambition to allow every young person achieve their potential, as well as supporting projects like fuller working lives.
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“Business and the Government need to champion the flexible labour market on which our economic strength relies, to ensure investment continues to flow in. While employers continue to invest in their people and give them training opportunities, firms still need access to skills and labour from the EU and further afield to succeed.
“We want all politicians to have an honest conversation about immigration. People coming here to work help businesses compete, staff our health service and contribute more in tax than they take out.
“Politically driven targets will only harm our economy and mean less money for public services. If the 海角视频 is to succeed post-Brexit, it must remain open to the world.”
Ms Glendinning joined the North East England Chamber of Commerce and the North East LEP in expressing concern last week when monthly unemployment figures showed that joblessness was rising in the North East at the same time as it fell most other parts of the country.
At the same time, MPs on the Treasury Select Committee have launched a major new inquiry into the huge wealth gap between the North and the South.