Sunderland-based business support organisation RTC North, which was chosen to help drive the skills and innovation agenda of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership’s inaugural meeting in Liverpool this month, is calling for local businesses to feed in their ideas to the Partnership, to make the most of the powerful focus on innovation which could help to transform their futures and that of the North of England.
The Northern Powerhouse Partnership brings together regional, national and international companies from across the North. All of the 50-plus partner companies, universities and enterprise partnerships involved have pledged to work with the Government to help the North achieve its full potential – and attract new jobs and investment to the region.
Skills and innovation is one of three key strands of the Partnership. The others focus on transport and connectivity, and quality of life improvements.
Andrew Buckley, chief executive for RTC North, said: “Innovation and skills development play to RTC’s proven strengths. We have been working with many companies to transform their potential through innovation, taking ideas from first stage through to successful commercialisation. In doing so, we help to retain many talented people and boost high quality jobs in the north.
“We want talented local companies to come forward with their ideas and get involved with the Partnership. The stronger the voice of the Partnership, the more impact it can make.
“Across the North there are many businesses with strong ideas which we want to hear about. The more businesses that join the Partnership the better, and the more impact we will have to help attract further investment and action to help companies and the region to thrive.
Companies which have signed up to the Northern Powerhouse Partnership include Siemens, Barclays Bank, Deloitte, Manchester Airport, PD Ports, the Peel Group, Atkins Global and the Northern Health Service Alliance
Andrew Buckley said: “We’re delighted to be involved in driving the innovation and skills strand for the Powerhouse Partnership. These two issues are key to the creation of a sustainable, confident economic future for the region.
“Skills development from schools and higher education through to in-house training underpins an adaptable, up to date, motivated workforce. Partnerships between cities, businesses and universities are becoming even more important in creating a highly skilled, innovation-driven future.
Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, Andrew Percy, said at the first Partnership meeting: “We are determined to back business growth across the Northern Powerhouse to create an economy that works for everyone. We have some of the best businesses and talent in the world.
“So I’m delighted that over 50 leading businesses are signed up and raring to go to make the most of all the region has to offer, in a real show of force for the North.”
RTC North is one of Europe’s leading technology transfer companies with a well-established reputation for delivering services in innovation and business growth. The company has offices in Sunderland, Daresbury and Leeds. Specialising in the commercialisation of new products and services, RTC works with organisations across the North to help them innovate, compete and grow. It does this by delivering a number of programmes, including Enterprise Europe Network, Innovate2Succeeed, Designing Better Business, NHS Innovations North and the STEM Ambassador Hub Network, and by providing a broad range of training and consultancy offerings.
The company also manages or hosts a number of the region’s leading clusters and networks, including Design Network North, Service Network, the North East Automotive Alliance and the North East Process Industries Cluster