NYCC puts economic growth on agenda at event for businesses

At the Delivering Growth in North Yorkshire conference are (l to r, back): County Coun Andrew Lee; Martin McTague, policy director of the Federation of Small Businesses; Martin Kelly, strategic business development director of Severfield PLC; David Kerfoot, chair of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership; and Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate; (front) Bryn Sage, CEO of Inhealthcare Ltd; Stacey Burlet, assistant chief executive at the County Council; Sam Alexander, CEO of Your Consortium; County Council chief executive Richard Flinton; and Jean MacQuarrie, editor of the Harrogate Advertiser, who compered and moderated the event.

The opportunities and challenges of creating economic growth in the county were at the top of the agenda at an event organised by North Yorkshire County Council.

About 60 businesses and 80 representatives from the public, private and voluntary sector from across the county attended the Delivering Growth in North Yorkshire conference at Harrogate Convention Centre on Friday.

NYCC’s executive member for Open to Business, Coun Andrew Lee, said: “It’s not always easy for public sectors partners to fully appreciate the needs and pressures that businesses experience, just as the intricacies of local government must often appear somewhat opaque and illogical to business.

“That’s why it’s important to have an open conversation about the needs of the private sector and how we as the public sector can adapt to better enable the core drivers of growth in the economy to be successful.”

The conference, which was moderated by Advertiser Series editor Jean MacQuarrie, heard from a wide range of speakers, including County Council chief executive Richard Flinton; Bryn Sage, CEO of Inhealthcare Ltd; Sam Alexander, CEO of Your Consortium; Martin Kelly, strategic business development director of Severfield PLC; Martin McTague, policy director of the Federation of Small Businesses; Stacey Burlet, assistant chief executive at the County Council; and David Kerfoot, chair of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate & Knaresborough and vice-chair of the Conservative Party with responsibility for business engagement, concluded by speaking about the government’s industrial strategy, devolution, and investment post-Brexit.

He said: “Ensuring our county can take advantage of the opportunities before it is critical for sustaining and promoting economic growth. That is why this conference was so important – bringing together district councils, the county council, businesses and other stakeholders to promote action to put economic growth at the heart of our local agenda.”