Gove delivers speech at Convention of the North

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove has given a speech at the Convention of the North.

He began by talking about what needs to change, including stunted economic development and the over-financialisation of economies and criticised partnering with authoritarian regimes.

Gove said: “And of course bureaucratic reporting requirements that have sometimes elevated abstract goals that please pressure groups ahead of concrete gains that deliver for the poorest.

“We have also seen supply chains that lack resilience and in some countries education systems that lack rigor.

“And linking them all of these phenomena has been a preference among some policymakers for models that appeal to theorists and think tanks rather than action rooted in real people and real places.”

Gove highlighted a lack of suitably qualified workers, limited supply of financial capital, and poor connectivity in terms of physical transport links and digital infrastructure.

He also mentioned the North-South Divide, which means that: “Wealth, influence, innovation, high productivity firms, high wage jobs and high quality schools have been disproportionately concentrated in the southeast quarter of the country.”

On what the government will do to address these problems, Gove said: “the moral imperative of reducing inflation is heart of everything we do.”

He also mentioned reforms to financial services to better support industry and manufacturing, securing investment from abroad and addressing economic inactivity.

Other action areas include tackling deprivation, investing in improved links between and within communities, and directing research and development to underfunded regions.

READ MORE than half (44 per cent) of firms expect their turnover to increase over the next 12 months, while 25 per cent expect a decrease. Those expecting turnover to increase remains ten percentage points down from a level of 54 per cent in Q2 2022. Profitability confidence remains much weaker than turnover confidence and has stabilised at Covid-crisis levels. Only one in three (34 per cent) businesses believe their profits will increase over the coming year, while 36 per cent now expect a decrease.

Regeneration fund launched for North Anglesey

The North Anglesey Regeneration Fund was launched on 23 January to make environmental improvements, help businesses and support local events.

Funding has been awarded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to regenerate the area. £50,000 is being made available for schemes that can be delivered by 31st March.

Small grants of up tp £7,500 are also being made available to help businesses and community groups in the Talybolion and Twrcelyn wards, and the community of Moelfre, to deliver projects which will support the County Council’s North Anglesey Regeneration Plan. £117,000 has already been awarded to local businesses and community groups to support job creation and improve the vitality of the area.

Anglesey Council Leader and Talybolion county councillor, Llinos Medi said: “Valuable funding received from the NDA has clearly been put to good use over the last two years, helping to regenerate North Anglesey. This additional money will further contribute to driving the North Anglesey Economic Regeneration Plan and I would encourage local businesses and community groups to apply if they have projects that meet the relevant criteria and can help regenerate their local communities.”

Applications for the fund are open now and must be submitted before 10 February.

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