The Government’s flagship Levelling Up White Paper sets out a plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it. Its 12 missions form the policy objectives for levelling up and form the heart of the government’s agenda for the 2020s. 

The concept of the Northern Powerhouse was a proposal to boost economic growth in the North of England by the 2010-15 coalition government.  It aims to reposition the British economy away from London and the South East. The government’s vision is for a super-connected, globally-competitive northern economy with a flourishing private sector and a highly-skilled population. 

This event will draw upon the key components required to achieve the vision of the Northern Powerhouse and to fulfil the levelling-up agenda. It will examine how to boost pay, employment and productivity by addressing the north-south skills gap, improving public transport and education inequalities. Case study examples will illustrate how local authorities have been successful in regenerating their town centres, improving rail connectivity and tackling the north-south disparities.