Roll out devolution to all of England

The government should roll out devolution deals nationally to help tackle the wide variation in regional productivity and boost local growth.

Fostering More Industrious Places – Getting the devolution revolution back on track, published by EEF, argues that England-wide devolution is key to the government’s policy on place as part of the industrial strategy. This would close the productivity gap between London and the South East and other regions, ensuring better alignment between national policy and local opportunities and challenges.

Local businesses want devolution to remain primarily focused on transport, with 68 per cent of manufacturers agreeing they would have access to a wider talent pool if there was better public transport in their area.

The manufacturing organisation also stresses that Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) should be this trusted deal-making agent.