Piers Linney - Trailblazer Columnist
Levelling Up is Not Optional!
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Inspiration is an undervalued thing. The first visionary engineering minds and entrepreneurs I took an interest in were George & Robert Stephenson, James Watt, Mathew Bolton, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel. As I read the histories of these men, I came to understand what it was they had in common. They had all understood the necessity of physical infrastructure. How else do you bring together the units of production and have the means to distribute them globally? These men and their contemporaries took great personal, financial and sometimes physical risk to see their visions come to fruition. While I’m sure there were fiery debates about how, when, and where a much-needed infrastructure was placed, history has shown it was clear to all not building a national infrastructure wasn’t an option.
Being a Lancashire lad that has lived in London while running businesses based in Manchester and Sheffield. I’ve first-hand experience of the logistic friction that exists and hinders economic progress. Though I’ll probably be eligible for my bus pass by the time the restoration of bus routes the government has committed £5bn to when it finally reaches Manchester, the news that HS2 is to be built is welcome. With that said, I believe the combining of HS2 with (NPR) Northern Powerhouse Rail, which would link cities from Liverpool to Leeds is vital if we’re to make a real economic difference and bring an end to the North-South divide. Many economists forewarn a lowering of GDP post-Brexit. If the experts are right time is of the essence and provision of the incentives and infrastructure essential to ensuring the UK remains competitive globally must be made. The Conservatives ‘Levelling Up’ agenda is a positive, it's also long overdue! Encouraging as it may be, I’m of the opinion a long-term national infrastructure project that benefits the North should not be used as a political football. Neither should it be subject to the moving of goalposts in a bid to influence future elections.
Copyright: JPImedia
In a digital world, high-speed internet is the oxygen supply of the economy. If the North is to maximise its contribution to UK GDP, the free movement of people and unfettered access to capital and talent is required. Regional mayors across the North have estimated investment in transport infrastructure would create more than 500,000 new jobs. However, research by the innovation foundation, Nesta, highlighted how the information economy as well as the development of artificial intelligence and robotics pose a threat to the demand for human resources in certain industries. Some of which are heavily focused in particular regions. Not only will drivers, admin and warehouse staff be under threat. Those in white-collar jobs such as accountants, lawyers and radiologists should also be prepared to move in order to find work. What’s more, they should think twice before encouraging their children to follow in their career footsteps. It is inevitable advancements in technology will result in material changes to the UK’s demographic, but affordable and efficient transport links would reduce impact and cost.
It is a strange dichotomy that as the skills shortage worsens across Europe, we should choose to restrict freedom of movement when access to ingenuity, expertise and talent would be a competitive advantage. It is crucial the UK aim for connectivity in all its forms. That we invest in our social and economic future. That we truly ‘Level Up’ and deal with the productivity gap between the North and South. There will of course be more debate, lobbying, and conflicting research about the costs and benefits of investing in infrastructure. In addition, it will be decades before the socio-economic value can be clearly demonstrated. Nonetheless, now that Levelling Up is top of the agenda, we should all be pushing to ensure it stays there. If we’re to encourage economic growth, we must wring out every last drop of talent, ambition, innovation and productivity necessary for the UK to thrive. Only then can we the share social benefits of success across the country.
Levelling up is not optional!