The Northern Powerhouse Partnership

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) is an independent body that was launched in September 2016 to represent the voice of business and civic leaders across the North. The NPP is chaired by the Rt Hon George Osborne who first outlined the Northern Powerhouse concept in a keynote speech in June 2014 and was a key exponent of the vision.

Objective

To increase the impact and contribution of the North of England to the UK economy.

The North contains communities with a strong industrial heritage and a distinct culture all surrounded by a beautiful natural environment. By encouraging these communities to work more closely together, we believe we can make the whole of the North greater than the individual parts. This will create the prosperous, modern economic powerhouse that has the critical mass to drive a wealth of opportunities; a North where companies choose to invest and create jobs, and people choose to live because there is a high quality of life, rising living standards and everyone is supported to reach their full potential.

NPP is business led, and will foster the partnership with local and national government. We will focus on where, by working better together across the North, we can make the biggest difference to growth and quality of life, putting in place the evidence base needed to support action, and driving specific initiatives.

George Osborne, Chair

"When I launched the idea of the Northern Powerhouse I said I would work tirelessly with anyone and everyone to make it a reality. But even I have been taken aback by the huge support it’s attracted, across political parties, businesses and communities.

In the space of just two years, we've created powerful new mayors, committed to huge new transport and science projects, and attracted investment from around the world.

There's a real excitement now in the north about what we can achieve if we work together. I don't want us to lose that. That's why I'm so pleased major businesses, civic leaders and others have worked with me to create this new Northern Powerhouse Partnership. I'm also glad that the government has given its support.

Chairing this new Partnership will now be a major focus of my political energies. The Northern Powerhouse is here to stay."