Tees Valley Placed Front And Centre In Drive For Northern Productivity

An influential new report issued today places the Tees Valley at the centre of a new drive to improve productivity across the North of England.

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, chaired by former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, sets out a comprehensive programme to boost productivity, innovation and technology across the North.

Specific Tees Valley initiatives endorsed by the report include:

• development of the hydrogen economy, with the Tees Valley responsible for more than 50% of the UK’s supply, and host to the country’s largest hydrogen producing facility.
•  delivery of a viable Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage scheme.
•  industrial digitisation to support manufacturing to increase its use of digital technology and automation.
•  the significant role of research and development organisations including the Material Processing Institute and TWI, leading the development of advanced manufacturing and materials.

Commenting on the report, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said, “This report demonstrates real momentum across the North to create a powerhouse of high productivity, investment and jobs.  I am delighted that, by working closely with the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, we have been able to demonstrate how central the Tees Valley is to realising this vision.  The Northern Powerhouse is powering forward, and the Tees Valley is playing a leading role.”

Henri Murison, Director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership said: “Our Powerhouse 2050 report sets out a blueprint for how the North can come together to increase productivity and create jobs. The Tees Valley can be a leader in the circular economy and has a blend of industrial experience and innovative industries to take full advantage from the recommendations in our report. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Ben Houchen to ensure that these proposals become a reality to transform the future of the Tees Valley and the Northern Powerhouse.”