National growth in the UK has been weak for over a decade, and the deepening cost of living crisis is likely to only exacerbate this situation.

To overcome this, policymakers at national, regional and local levels need to focus on supporting the high value-added knowledge intensive industries in which the UK already has comparative advantages. These high value-added businesses are disproportionately located in urban areas meaning cities and large towns have a significant role to play in boosting productivity and economic growth.

This panel discussed what interventions and policies are needed to create the conditions in cities where growth can flourish, the potential for reform at the national and local scale to support this, and how can the public and private sector work together to ensure adequate funding and investment.

Speakers were:

Cllr Abi Brown, Leader of Stoke City Council

The Rt Hon Justine Greening, former Secretary of State for Education and founder of The Social Mobility Pledge

Professor Tony Travers, Director of LSE London

Chair: Andrew Carter, Chief Executive, Centre for Cities