Let’s work together to show region’s strength, urges CBI

Andrew Palmer, the regional director, backed the Yorkshire Post’s campaign for a fair deal in funding and opportunities and highlighted the importance of investment in infrastructure in supporting economic growth.

He said Yorkshire’s cities should work together more closely for the wider benefit of the region and also called for closer cooperation with Manchester if the region wants to compete with London.

Mr Palmer told the Yorkshire Post: “Let’s talk the region up because we have got so much on offer and so many of my members are proud to be part of the Yorkshire business community. We need to play together.”

He said improvements to transport systems, including road upgrades and increased rail capacity, are crucial to growth and the CBI is working to address these issues with ministers.

Mr Palmer said political leadership is needed to help boost Yorkshire.

He added: “It comes down to politics and looking at a coordinated plan of action. That’s where the local enterprise partnerships could have a role to play.”

But Mr Palmer warned that the LEPs could be seen as talking shops or “repetitors” and said there is some scepticism about the fledgling partnerships between business leaders and local authorities.

He said success would come from “making sure we are all talking about the right agendas”.

The regional director insisted that Yorkshire has “a lot to shout to about”.

It has a vast talent pool, he said, with a huge array of professional services firms servicing Yorkshire-based businesses, many of which have international operations.

It has leading universities engaged in research and development, but he added that “there is a lot more to be done” with the level of business engagement.

Large corporates are also carrying out pioneering research and development in the region and see Yorkshire as a testing laboratory for innovation, he said.

Mr Palmer spoke in firm support of the region’s manufacturing industries. He said: “If you want that resurgence in manufacturing we have got to be at the cutting edge of new techniques, new materials and new technologies and we excel across the region, whether it is Sheffield, Hull or Leeds.”

He added: “We have the fertile ground here. If the technology is right, and all the conditions are right for being in the region, we erode the reason for being offshore and can really develop what we are doing in this region.”

Mr Palmer, who became the regional director three years ago, said: “Yorkshire businesses work really hard and there are some terrific businesses out there. We have them right across the region.”