Centre for Cities Realising Regional Growth conference series returned for 2023 with this first event in Newcastle.

Speakers:

Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor

Lord Sainsbury of Turville, former Minister for Science and Innovation

Pete Daykin, CEO and co-founder, Wordnerds

Dominic Endicott, Director, Northstar Ventures

Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Engagement and Place, Newcastle University

Lucy Winskell, Chair, NE LEP

This half-day conference brought together regional politicians, academics and business leaders to discuss the role of cities in the region and their opportunities and challenges, how to deliver levelling up, and what the region needs from the Government.

The Levelling Up White Paper published in February 2022 set out the Government’s ambition for all places to achieve their productivity potential, supporting economic growth and improvements in living standards across the UK, and the North East has been allocated around £209 million from the Levelling Up Fund and Community Ownership Fund. But what does this mean in practice for cities and large towns in the North East, and will the investment drive the economic growth that is critical to a more prosperous region and country? Will the creation of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority allow cities in the region the powers and funding to address local weaknesses and support the region in realising its full potential? And how can cities and universities in the region support innovation and research and development to drive growth and prosperity for businesses and local people?