Regional Mayors at Great Run Headquaters in 2024 with Sir Brendan Foster

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has joined other Northern Mayors to unveil The Great North, a new partnership to unlock a new era of jobs, opportunity and prosperity for the North.

The Mayors will launch the new body at an event in Leeds, which brings Mayors and local leaders together to unlock the North’s economic potential in key sectors including clean energy, defence and advanced manufacturing and creative industries.

Chaired by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, The Great North has been backed by Government, with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner endorsing the organisation.

It will lead international trade missions on pan-Northern investment propositions and host a new Northern Investment Summit to champion opportunity and potential of the North’s 15 million people.

Opportunities for the North identified by Mayors include:

• An energy coast proposition down the east coast powering the clean energy revolution, building on 50% of England’s renewable energy already being generated in the north.
• The Northern Arc and White Rose Plan stretching from the north west across the Pennines anchored by investment in the Transpennine Route Upgrade and proposals in the White Rose Rail report and Liverpool-Manchester Railway.
• A northern security corridor reaching down from Cumbria and the North East through Lancashire, and bringing together key industrial, engineering and cyber assets that will be essential in securing the UK’s international security.
• Advanced materials and manufacturing corridors bringing together Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, with links into key neighbouring economies, or between the North East and Tees Valley.
• The One Creative North partnership which will build on and boost the North of England’s creative industries, driving inward investment and economic growth, and delivering new opportunities for creatives and communities to thrive.

A new report by The Great North launched at the event reveals the North could add £118 billion to UK PLC with the right investments – with the North leading the way as the UK pursues security in uncertain global context, with growth, energy security and defence top of the agenda.

The Great North will catalyse the potential of its creative industries and culture through One Creative North, a pan-regional partnership to ensure that Northern creative industries have the finance, skills and connectivity they need to thrive and attract global investment and tourism, boosting jobs and growth.

It marks a new era in the North’s devolution journey, moving on from initiatives imposed by Westminster, to one where local leaders develop a shared vision and strategy to unlock the North’s potential.

The Great North will harness the momentum of the Devolution White Paper, to shift powers to elected Mayors representing more than 15 million people, working with local authorities, business, academia, arms-length bodies, and existing pan-Northern group and bodies.

The White Paper praised Northern Mayors for collaborating on shared priorities and signalled government support for the mayoral-led partnership.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:

“Devolution has given us the freedom to move beyond the outdated ‘Whitehall knows best’ mentality which, for too long, held our communities back. By working together, Northern Mayors are showing that devolution isn’t just about shifting powers from Westminster – it’s about reshaping our future on our own terms.

“The North is home to many different accents but now we are speaking with a single, unified voice – to attract investment, open up opportunities, and showcase the very best of what our regions have to offer.”

Chair of The Great North and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:

“The time has come for a resurgent north to unite and proudly lead the way to a fairer more prosperous UK, and The Great North is our vehicle for change. This country needs a northern story written by northern minds, not one handed to us by Whitehall, and this Great North partnership puts us on track to write it.

“Whether it is powering the nation’s homes or powering its imagination, this is the north that will lead the way, building on a great legacy. The opportunity is immense and we are ready to work with anyone who is equally determined to create good jobs.

“Whether you are investing here or growing an existing business, you will know that the people of the north are our biggest asset, and now The Great North partnership is here to build on their pride in place.

“People choose this northern life, and we are proud to work together on the next chapter of The Great North.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said:

“We are taking action to shift power out of Whitehall and into our communities, giving local leaders the tools they need to realise their areas’ potential.

“Initiatives like The Great North are critical to this – putting directly elected Mayors front and centre of exciting plans for regional collaboration, in the places they know better than anyone else, building stronger and happier communities in the process.

“The North already makes a colossal contribution to our economy and our country as a whole – but there is so much more to come. I can’t wait to see what The Great North will achieve as local partners work hand-in-hand, supported by a government that shares their ambitions.”

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said:

“For too long, creative talent has had to leave to achieve, but we’re turning the tide with the launch of One Creative North.

“Backed by the powers and funding of devolution, we are working together in the spirit of collaboration to join up our creative industries, turbocharging growth, skills and good jobs.

“One Creative North is a bold answer to a decade of underinvestment in the creative industries across our Great North and will put the UK back on the creative and cultural map.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, said: 

“The need for the North of England to speak with a strong, collective voice has never been greater. Devolution is enabling us to deliver better public services and better value for money for taxpayers.

“But the feeling here is one of potential still waiting to be unlocked. The Great North is our opportunity to come together, as Mayors and as regions, to champion our strengths and put forward our proposition – to the Government, the country and the rest of the world.” 

York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith, said:

“The North has been left behind for too long. As the Great North we can embrace a new opportunity to come together as mayors and local leaders around our shared heritage and culture, championing our strengths and unlocking the huge potential for growth, investment and innovation.

“In York and North Yorkshire, we’re at the forefront of delivering devolution and growth in an urban-rural-coastal region, we can share our experience with new Mayors and help build resilient rural and coastal communities across the North.

“Working collaboratively, we can make sure every community in the North shares in this opportunity, from coast to coast, in rural villages, towns and cities.”

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen said:

“Despite being of different political parties we have a track record of delivery and joining forces to bang the drum for the north will help drive even more global investment to our region.

“For too long the north has played second fiddle to London but this is changing, and now we want to go further.

“The Great North is a great brand and now we need to make sure it’s not just a logo but something that brings investment and jobs for the people of Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard said:

“As Mayors, we’re already tackling some of the biggest issues that face our communities – whether that’s improving public transport, boosting skills and training locally or growing our economies.

“The Great North gives us a vehicle to tell the shared story of our regions and the 15 million people we represent. We’re going to speak with one voice about the challenges and opportunities in front of us, and do it together.”

Hull and East Yorkshire Mayor Luke Campbell said:

“We have a great opportunity to do things differently, and put our local communities first, thanks to devolved funding and decision-making powers.

“As a new Combined Authority, it’s a fantastic opportunity for Hull and East Yorkshire to join up across the north on transport and other major infrastructure projects where we can make big changes happen and improve people’s lives, by working together. And locally we can make decisions with people, not for people – and show that we are totally transparent and accountable to our communities.”

Sir Brendan Foster CBE, Founder of the Great North Run, said:

“The Great North Run grew from an idea in 1981 to become the first mass participation event in the World to reach one million finishers, thus achieving national and international fame. We are excited that the ‘Great North’ brand as an identity of people and place is to be used as a mark of excellence and enthusiasm by the Metro mayors of the North of England. We will support them as they aim to make the ‘Great North’ a place of opportunity by campaigning for their fair share from government, business, and tourism.”