David Skaith and Ben Houchen announce bio-industrial cluster partnership to drive 5,000 new jobs
North Yorkshire’s agri-food technology sector is to collaborate with Teesside’s chemicals specialism to drive jobs and growth as part of a new collaboration between the region’s mayors.
The two combined authorities yesterday announced a new bio-industrial cluster bringing together businesses and government with the University of York and Teesside University.
David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Lord Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, believe the new partnership will grow the regional economy by £5bn, launch 100 start-ups and create 5,000 new skilled jobs.
There is also an aspiration for a further 5,000 apprenticeships.
The Labour and Tory mayors have put party politics to one side to collaborate, and believe both region’s strengths can really benefit the other.
Lord Houchen said: “Being able to work with North Yorkshire on the bio-industrial cluster unlocks a huge amount of opportunity.
“We know the opportunity in the agri-tech industry in North Yorkshire, and we know how that marries in with academia, the private sector and also the chemical and processing cluster we have on Teesside.
“That creates jobs for local people, which ultimately is what this is about.”
Mr Skaith said that the research and development expertise at the University of York really complements Teesside’s heavy industry.
“We are talking about sectors and industries of the future, and that is the bit that we’re really drawn towards in our patch in particular,” he told The Yorkshire Post.
“The potential of bringing in all those spin-offs and smaller businesses that can see we, alongside Tees Valley, are leading the way in this sector.
“Bringing those two together has been a great strength, and another strength of having devolved powers and mayors.”
The plans have got the full backing of the Government, and Industry Minister Chris McDonald was at a round table launch in Darlington yesterday.
He said: “A big part of this cluster is about highlighting the region as a place where there are the skills to do this, with an existing business ecosystem.
“This fits very well within our industrial strategy. We’ve been very hands on, we’re not just sitting around and waiting for things to happen, we’ve put growth at the centre of it.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to capture this sector locally, and what the government is saying is we are open for business investment.”