What does this “levelling up” thing really look like?

“Levelling up” is a soundbite that sticks. Rightly so. While hard to define with precision, most of us have an intuitive sense that this is a major UK problem to be solved. Most of the debate so far has focused on the “hardware” of places – transport, broadband, other infrastructure – and less on the “software” - thriving firms, bustling high streets, local jobs, better wages. Now there are some signs of normality returning to our lives, across each of our nations, these feel like the basics we don’t want to take for granted anymore.

This is the levelling up I am most interested in. Where the prize is that this bustle converts into a growing sense of pride in where you live and work and a real sense of momentum that your local area is on the up. From that flows economic growth – job creation, new business creation, skills growth – all in virtuous circle.

I think business can and must be at the heart of making this happen. And it usually comes from passionate business leaders.

People like Mark Thompson of Ryder Architecture. A man who began his career in Newcastle, in shipbuilding, and witnessed the industry’s decline first-hand. But who, ever since, has been a staunch defender of Newcastle and the North East. And has been investing in amazing projects there for years, pioneering everything from local hospitals to schools and research labs.

Last week I referred to Mark in a speech I was giving at the CBI’s Urban Revival Conference. And in return, I paid an online visit to more than 80 of his colleagues – keen architects who will have an important role in inspiring us, in overseeing a return of civic pride, in sparking the alchemy that puts one place at the heart of something much bigger. Tying in with good, connective infrastructure, both physical and digital. Embracing the latest innovations. Leading the way for many businesses to do their bit in the race to net-zero. They were all hungry to find out how they fitted in to the politics of it all, and how they could turn that into reality. 

I probably talked too much because we ran out of time. But it’s those kind of discussions we need more of – with the people who can put the ideas into practice.

We can all do more to raise our game

Urban regeneration can start small. From a company’s decision about office space, or retailers stepping up to renewed interest in the mantra ‘shop local’. Or businesses responding to the rise of community spirit to support improvement projects dreamt up by local people. It then gets pretty big – where we start to develop real clusters of success. You get a profound shift in a place’s fortunes, in the way that Belfast – my town – has become a hub for cyber security and fintech companies. A city in which today 10,000 people work in digital jobs – something that could hardly be imagined 15 years ago. And you get something the wider area can build on – like in the South West, where its strength in advanced manufacturing and aerospace now underpins an initiative, the Western Gateway, designed to expand the cluster effect.

These are turbocharged when ambitious partnerships come together, involving our universities, our research centres and our keystone businesses, bringing along smaller businesses too, you get something like Project Acorn in Aberdeen – where existing oil and gas pipelines are being used to store CO2, safely, in sandstone and porous rocks, deep under the North Sea. It’s totally ingenious. It’s demonstrating our leadership in the race to net-zero. And it’s creating jobs and opportunities across large swathes of North Eastern Scotland.

But Difference is GOOD

For some time now we’ve assumed that every region should have a bleeding edge green cluster, tech cluster, creative cluster and so on. The challenge with that is that it build cookie cutter strategies that don’t build on local strengths. What we need in the UK are internationally competitive regions and nations – places in our country that are famous for something – a different something – around the world. Where a combination of local environment, historical success, skills surpluses, innovative firms all have the potential to really thrive and grow. I’m pretty sure that’s what the next wave of local economic development will look like in Britain. And I’m determined that the CBI can help support and drive this. All thoughts welcome on the big idea and how you think we can help.