Stephen Crabb says there should be “no limits” to potential of Northern Powerhouse

North Wales has the opportunity to drive a fresh wave of investment and opportunity across the region by capitalising on the Northern Powerhouse.

The Secretary of state will today tell the Institute of Directors, “The Northern Powerhouse has taken off at startling speed as the great cities of the north form an arc of innovation supported by new regional plans for housing, investment, employment and elected mayors. Last month, the Chinese president – leader of one of the world’s most powerful economies – visited Manchester to learn more about what the Northern Powerhouse can offer the rest of the world. The fact that China regards the North as a distinct region to do business with is evidence that our efforts to rebalance the UK economy are bearing fruit”.

Mr Crabb believes that business leaders should be in the driving seat to ensure North Wales reaps the benefits of the Northern Powerhouse.

“In North Wales, we have always looked east to Liverpool and Manchester for economic growth as much as we look south to Cardiff and Swansea. The Northern Powerhouse represents our best chance to bring transformational change to North Wales. But in the same way that the UK government has had the confidence to devolve powers from the centre down to Manchester, we need to see the same confidence in North Wales from politicians in Cardiff.

“I want to see a strong alliance between the business community in North Wales and their partners. It is their role to hold the feet of both the UK and Welsh Government to the fire so this part of the country can secure the world class infrastructure it deserves.”

Stephen Crabb will visit Wrexham prison with Prisons Minister Andrew Selous. The prison will provide a multi-million boost to the local and national economy, also creating 1,000 jobs.There will be around 100 apprenticeships created, with half of the entire workforce recruited from the local area.

They will then meet some of the small, local business owners who are benefiting from contracts that have been generated by building work. An expected £50M will be spent with small and medium sized businesses and £30M with local businesses.

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