Manufacturing in the North East – Northumbria University, Newcastle
The North East was once one of the industrial powerhouses of the world. Names such as Stephenson, Parsons, Swan, Reyrolle and Armstrong were just a few of those that drove the region to its pinnacle of the coal, rail, shipbuilding, engineering, electrical and other industries. After years of steady decline, the 1970s and 1980s saw the rapid shrinkage and closure of many of these, the effects of which we still being felt. Unfortunately, today the region sits near the bottom of the league tables on many of the national indicators of wellbeing such as poverty, employment, health, attainment, GDP per capita and business density.
But in 2024, the region stands at the threshold of a new era of progress. Opportunities in renewables and net-zero, electric vehicles, space, defence, and many other advanced and high-value sectors of the 21st century industrial economy are opening up, supported by our strong and growing universities and our new North East Combined Authority. There is no doubt that the cornerstone of wider opportunity, prosperity and progress will be anchored in the success of our industrial sector.
On the 17th September, Northumbria University and Newcastle Business School will be hosting an evening event aimed at informing and developing the debate around our future regional industrial policy.
The first part of the evening will be a public lecture “The future of Manufacturing in the UK and its Regions”. The talk will explore the regional, national and global structure of manufacturing today and in the future, and will place the UK and the North East within this wider context, giving some indicators of how regions have leveraged assets old and new to position themselves for success. Speakers will include the current head of the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge, Professor Tim Minshall, and the founder of the Institute, Professor Sir Michael Gregory. Their vast international experience will help us draw out the key issues for us to address in our strategic thinking.
Agenda
5:30 reception – main foyer
6:30 lecture
7:30 Q&A/discussion
7:45 close
