Six mayors in the North of England have announced a new agreement that is hoped will bring opportunities for business and investment in the region – estimated to be £118bn – which includes the creative industries and games.
The Great North partnership represents more than 15 million people from the North West, Yorkshire and the North East of England and includes mayors Tracy Brabin (West Yorkshire), Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester), Steve Rotheram (Liverpool City Region), David Skaith (York and North Yorkshire), Ben Houchen (Tess Valley), Oliver Coppard (South Yorkshire) and Kim McGuinness (North East).
Opportunities for the North include renewable energy and rail improvements. However for the creative industries including games, there is a new One Creative North partnership which will “build on and boost the North of England’s creative industries, driving inward investment and economic growth, and delivering new opportunities for creatives and communities to thrive.”
“Game Republic welcomes this exciting cross-collaboration across the North,” said Jamie Sefton, Managing Director of Game Republic. “We were delighted to contribute to the One Creative North vision and look forward to supporting its implementation, which has the potential of creating more business and funding opportunities for our fantastic games companies and the wider creative industries.”
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “For too long, creative talent has had to leave to achieve, but we’re turning the tide with the launch of One Creative North… One Creative North is a bold answer to a decade of underinvestment in the creative industries across our Great North and will put the UK back on the creative and cultural map.”
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner added: “We are taking action to shift power out of Whitehall and into our communities, giving local leaders the tools they need to realise their areas’ potential. Initiatives like The Great North are critical to this – putting directly elected Mayors front and centre of exciting plans for regional collaboration, in the places they know better than anyone else, building stronger and happier communities in the process.”
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