Yorkshire businesses '˜have got their mojo back' - Deloitte boss

Yorkshire business should look to both collaborate and compete more with their regional counterparts, one of the nation's top accountants has claimed.
David Sproul the CEO for Deloitte.David Sproul the CEO for Deloitte.
David Sproul the CEO for Deloitte.

David Sproul, chief executive of professional services giant Deloitte, told The Yorkshire Post that competition across the north of England was a healthy thing for the nation’s economy and that the region should look to punch its weight when it came to devolved spending and investment.

Mr Sproul also had praise for the performance of prospects of Yorkshire businesses, saying the region’s economy had “got its mojo back” and said firms were looking ahead, rather than showing caution, in the wake of Brexit.

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Speaking to The Yorkshire Post at Deloitte’s Leeds offices, Mr Sproul said: “People will often point towards the North West and Manchester and say how well it has gone but the region here has been more consistent on its message and more aligned on how it is going to sell that message internationally.

David Sproul, CEO of Deloitte UKDavid Sproul, CEO of Deloitte UK
David Sproul, CEO of Deloitte UK

“It is not quite an old style mercantile economy but there is a definite sense of ‘this is Yorkshire and this is what we are going to do’.

“Is it wrong to have these regions competing? It is not inward looking, you can compete and collaborate.

“I don’t think there is anything wrong with Yorkshire wanting to puff its chest out against the North West but that doesn’t mean you don’t collaborate as well.

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“I just think if Manchester is negotiating direct flights to China into its airport that doesn’t mean it is just good news for Manchester, it means that Leeds Bradford should start looking for direct flights to Korea, or where it may be.”

Morley Railway StationMorley Railway Station
Morley Railway Station

Mr Sproul was in Yorkshire having visited clients across the Yorkshire region and in the North East and said the confidence levels were significantly higher each time he travelled to the area.

“There is definitely a sense of business having its mojo back, and that is across sectors,” he said.

“There is generally a very positive sense.

“The other thing we have seen a lot of is cities and regions being clearer about where they want to have international relationships. It is not ignoring central Government but more ‘we have got to make the case for us’.

David Sproul, CEO of Deloitte UKDavid Sproul, CEO of Deloitte UK
David Sproul, CEO of Deloitte UK
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“Whether you are on the council or the LEP or a business leader there is a sense of ‘we will make the case for why this is a good region to invest in and why we have got good export capabilities.’

“I think that has changed a lot in the last few years, that cohesion among businesses. We all recognise it has always got challenges, there are challenges

“We have to recognise that infrastructure is a massive issue for us. Whether it is railways or airports or broadband we have just got to get better infrastructure. Our productivity challenge is mainly around infrastructure. People at their workplace are not working less hard than anywhere else, it is the infrastructure. It does require a voice led from the region.”

Martin Jenkins, Practice Senior Partner for Deloitte in Yorkshire and the North East, said: “I have noticed in Yorkshire over the past five years a noticeable increase in confidence generally, whether that is business, public sector, real estate...there is a level of aspiration across the region that is at a higher level than five years ago.

Morley Railway StationMorley Railway Station
Morley Railway Station
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“There is a huge opportunity that the regions outside London offer for economic growth. There is a real momentum now in our major regions, we need to leverage the message that the regions can and are contributing every more to the national good.”