Rotherham to host Convention of the North

Rotherham will host the second ‘Convention of the North’ in September.

The summit, set to take place at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham on Friday September 13, will bring together political, business, community, academic and youth leaders from across the North of England to discuss the region’s future.

The convention will look to argue for greater government investment in the Northern Powerhouse and its ‘potentially transformational’ role in the future of the UK.

Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis said: ‘I’m delighted that the Sheffield City Region is hosting this significant event, and I look forward to welcoming delegates to South Yorkshire on 13 September.

‘Our country stands at a time of great change, which presents both challenges and opportunities. By working together across the North, maximising collaboration between the public and private sectors and bridging the political divide, we can make the North’s case on a national and international level, power our economy and narrow the inequality gap that persists within the UK.’

This year’s Convention of the North will be co-hosted by the NP11 group, which consists of all 11 Northern chairs of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).

It will also bring together bodies such as the influential bodies such as the N8 research partnership, the People’s Powerhouse, Northern Power Women and leading think-tanks such as IPPR North.

Representatives from young people’s groups will also be present to argue their vision for the future of the North and how current leaders should work together to achieve it.

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the NP11 and of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: ‘Building a thriving and well-connected Northern Powerhouse is key to ensuring that we create a productive and successful post-Brexit Britain.

‘Ambitions to turbo-charge the North will only be achieved through effective collaboration and strong consensus across all of our great Northern towns, cities and rural communities.’

The convention has been supported by the Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry, who called the Magna Science Adventure Centre a ‘fitting place to host this landmark event’.

The Magna Science Adventure Centre is a former steelwork which has since been transformed into an award-winning educational and entertainment venue.

‘This summit in Rotherham will bring together the most diverse range of Northern Powerhouse thinkers, leaders and community champions ever seen to set the agenda for a thriving and prosperous Northern Powerhouse,’ Berry said.

The North of England is now home to an estimated 16 million people and includes the cities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and Newcastle.

Speakers and a detailed agenda for the upcoming Convention of the North are set to be released over the coming weeks.

Photo Credit – Ben Sutherland

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