Industrial Strategy: Ministers to meet North West business leaders

Ministers are embarking on an engagement tour across the North West to explain how the Government’s Industrial Strategy plans will benefit the region.

As part of the tour, Business Secretary Greg Clark will host a reception with North West leaders at Tate Liverpool, where he will discuss the business community’s views on what the priorities should be for the Industrial Strategy.

Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson, meanwhile, will visit Macclesfield’s Jodrell Bank Observatory and announce details of a new £10m scheme to boost the UK’s burgeoning commercial spaceflight market.

Elsewhere, Industry Minister Jesse Norman will tour Dunkinfield-based aerospace manufacturer Hyde Aero Products.

Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark commented: “The North West has a world-leading reputation in a number of the UK’s leading sectors and industries from creative industries through to advanced manufacturing.

“Through our modern Industrial Strategy we plan to build on the region’s exceptional local strengths and make it one of the most competitive areas of the country to start and grow a business as part of the Northern Powerhouse.”

He continued: “We launched our strategy as a Green Paper because we want this to be a conversation with businesses and employees. Today my ministerial team and I are visiting the North West to hear and discuss how we create a high-skilled economy where every place can meet its potential.”

The Liverpool City Region LEP’s interim chair, Asif Hamid, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Greg Clark here to Tate Liverpool to discuss the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

“Government’s ambition to develop a high skilled and competitive economy that benefits people throughout the UK and particularly in the Northern Powerhouse is one we share.”

Andrea Nixon, executive director of Tate Liverpool, commented: “We are delighted to be hosting this evening’s reception.

“It will give organisations across the North West the opportunity to discuss issues that matter to them.”

In its Building our Industrial Strategy Green Paper, unveiled last month, the Government has outlined 10 areas of focus – including skills, infrastructure and affordable energy – to be discussed during a 12-week consultation.

Want to know what North West business leaders think of the Industrial Strategy? Read our roundup of reactions here.