More than 100 businesses gathered on Tyneside to find out more about the support available from the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA).
The Business Summit, held at the Centre for Life in Newcastle, was a chance for businesses big and small to learn more about the opportunities the £600m deal brings, share ideas and understand the role they can play in shaping future policy direction.
The North of Tyne Devolution Deal offers the region new ways to build on its success and unlock its great potential. As well as a new North of Tyne elected mayor to work on behalf of the region, the NTCA will have a range of tools to boost growth.
Among those is an Investment Fund of £20m a year for 30 years, a fund that will be central to the Combined Authority’s aim of creating more and better jobs.
North of Tyne Interim Mayor Norma Redfearn said: “Delivering our vision of a dynamic and more inclusive economy is a task for all the North of Tyne area, and our conversations with business are a vital part of this.
“We want to ensure a meaningful and ongoing conversation about what support businesses here need, and how they can be actively involved in developing proposals and shaping future policy direction, ahead of the new North of Tyne elected mayor taking office in May.”
The Combined Authority’s Interim Head of Paid Service Pat Ritchie, who chaired the event, added: “We’re very pleased with how many businesses both large and small from across the Combined Authority area took time out of their busy schedules to take part in the summit.
“It was an excellent opportunity for the Combined Authority to hear more from businesses about their hopes and aspirations and we are sure they found it as beneficial as we did.
“This is just the start of this engagement process and we look forward to working closely with all businesses as we move forward.”
The business summit was the latest in a number of events organised by the Combined Authority to engage with stakeholders.
Further roadshows aimed at local voluntary, community groups and social enterprises are being held across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland later this month.
To see the slides presented at the summit go HERE.
Elections for the NTCA Elected Mayor will be held on May 2.