Regional Economic Strategy (RES) Leading the Way and Action Plan Gillian Roll, One NorthEast NERIP Measuring the Economy Seminar 20 th November 2006

Scale of the Challenge Relatively low growth Business start up levels low in comparison with the UK average Levels of worklessness high Ageing and declining population Relatively low skills levels

The RES and RES Action Plan Underpinning Principles Increase productivity and participation Tackle barriers and constraints Fewer, bigger more strategic activities Clear investment criteria Maximise economic impact Sustainable, inclusive economic growth

Targets within RES and RES Action Plan Overarching target for 2016: Increase GVA per head from 80% to 90% of the UK average Contributory targets: Increase stock of VAT-registered businesses by between 18,500 and 22,000 Increase net employment levels by between 61,000 and 73,000

Leading the way Underpinning Evidence Strong evidence base reflected within document – footnotes, maps, graphs, statistics State of the Region Report (NERIP) – formed technical annex SHINE (Shaping Horizons in the North East) Sectors research Evaluations of SHINE and previous Regional Economic Strategy, Realising Our Potential Regional and international case studies throughout Strategy - tangible

RES priorities Collective regional leadership Business —Enterprise —Business solutions —Preparing for structural change People —Skills —Economic inclusion Place —Strategic transformational regeneration —Business accommodation —Transport & ICT connectivity —Promoting, enhancing and protecting our natural, heritage and cultural assets

Moving toward Action Planning Leading the way endorsed by DTI Minister in October 2006 Strongly supported and endorsed across the region RES commits to developing an Action Plan Crucial to move from Strategy to Implementation This is the whole region’s Strategy, and the whole region’s responsibility to deliver

The RES Action Plan Turns the RES into a five year programme An Action Plan for the whole Region Identifying partners’ contributions to resources and outcomes Structured around RES Themes Once Action Plan priorities agreed upon, appropriate delivery mechanisms to be identified Significant work taken place to develop draft Action Plan, e.g. developing a ‘best fit’ scenario with Durham University Business School and NERIP

Consultation Process Consulting on the RES Action Plan and Strategic Environmental Assessment/ Sustainability Appraisal report between 31 st October 2006 and 30 th January 2007 Engaging with partners on a thematic and geographic basis during consultation process Where possible, using existing meetings See website for consultation document and feedback form: cfm

Transformational Interventions 1.Building a new enterprise surge 2.Boosting productivity 3.Promoting science, innovation and design in business 4.Skills: enhancing the capability of the workforce 5.Economic Inclusion: increasing the size of the workforce 6.Investing in the economic hearts of the city regions

Detail of the Action Plan Transformational Actions effectively ‘summary highlights’ Doesn’t capture everything in the Action Plan, e.g: —Leadership —Weaving of Rural and Culture themes throughout the Action Plan —Image All viewed as crucial to the success of the region in the delivery of the RES.

Background papers - website Paper on growth scenario Working papers to be posted on website on Business, People and Place Topic papers: —Image —Rural —Culture and Tourism —Health —Environmental Sustainability