Had a big chat with my better half the other day about her thoughts on the issue (she if frighteningly intelligent) and her answer is to begin with countering the brian drain to London and the SE for skilled graduates.
Many northern univercities are now beginning to really specilaise in engineering (UCLAN here in Preston has just completed a huge new engineering building) as well as making an environment where graduates and young entrepreneurs can get the backing and support they need. Currently, and AFAIK, only London and it's digital roundabout area provide that.
We do have many universities that specialise in science and technology up here and it would be a great move to give their talent opportunity to thrive up here espeially whenman of the graduates are from the local areas.
Many of those I do know who left the north for London over a decade ago are now wanting to get out. Their seemingly high wage is now eaten into by high rents and living costs.
There is no way they can afford a house even wth a 50k a year wage and the realisation that quality of life can acutally have a price has finally dawned on them.
I think that whatever the outcome there are major hurdles to overcome, not least, that many towns and cities have seen so little govt investment over the past 40 years that infrastrcuture will be very hard to fix unless some tough decisions are taken. By this I mean that things such as situating new industries will have to involve the creation of new industrial areas as the old factory are pretty much now housing and retail parks.
They need to stop the aforementione brain drain as well as sortign out prublic transport, which in and around major towns a cities is fine(ish), one you get outside of there it can be anything from poor to a once a week service (one-way).
We also need better vocational training instead of pumping out loads of graduates skilled to do little else apart from heading straight for the nearest office job. The north used to be where we innovated and we need to get that back.
I suspect a positive media campaign would also do wonders in encouraging talent from elsewhere.
Want a better quality of life, lots of fresh air with gorgeous countyside and landscapes? Want freindlier people and the ability to own your own home easier?
There is a lot to offer up here and it does seem that there is never a defense, or even mention, of the norths positives from the London centric media. It's almost always The South = rich and nice whilst The North = grim and poor, whilst at the same time never considerign that the areas that are grim and poor (more than a few) were made so almost by govt policy.
Urgh, I'd better come back to this. More of a sunday morning rant and need some fresh air (we have lots of that!) to clear my head.
