ACE creates new Northern Region to maximise support to local businesses and boost influence of consultancy and engineering across this critical UK region.

Engineering and consultancy business in the north of England will be handed a new lever to help maximise opportunities from planned regional political and economic devolution with the launch of a new ACE Northern cluster next week.

The business opportunities from the so-called Northern Powerhouse, championed by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne as the key to driving growth in the north and rebalancing the UK economy, will be debated on Tuesday at an event in Leeds to launch the new ACE business group.

The afternoon event will feature presentations from key political and business leaders from across the region including Tom Riordan, chief executive of Leeds City Council and Paul Hamer, CEO of WYG and board member of the Leeds City Region LEP.

"Particular focus over the short to medium term will be on meeting, lobbying and influencing key organisations and sharing knowledge with members on how a devolved economy will actually work and what it will deliver for the consultancy and engineering industry." Marc Davies, WYG director and ACE northern region chair.

Momentum is now building behind the region, with government commitment to the One North plan, initiatives such as Rail for the North now taking shape and Manchester set to elect a mayor by 2017, (see “Creating the UK’s Northern Powerhouse”), explained Marc Davies, director of WYG and the regional chair for ACE.

“There is more talk than action and substance at the moment,” he said. “Particular focus over the short to medium term will be on meeting, lobbying and influencing key organisations and sharing knowledge with members on how a devolved economy will actually work and what it will deliver for the consultancy and engineering industry.’

He added: “Engaging and supporting graduates and those in their early career will be a focus of the group too. The recession led to many good engineers leaving the industry, the effects of which we are still feeling when we try and recruit engineers with 5 or so years experience, so encouraging and supporting this group is imperative.”

As leader of Leeds City Council Tom Riordan is set to be an important and influential player in the Northern Powerhouse and he will explain the devolution agenda and what it could mean to investment decision making across the region.

Hamer is expected to speak on the role of the Leeds City Region LEP and highlight the funding already secured and the committed projects.

The ACE launch event takes place at Pinsent Masons Leeds office at 1 Park Row on Tuesday 17 March from 1.30pm until 4.00pm. To reserve a place contact Raymond Davies - rdavies@acenet.co.uk

He should also give insight into how this investment is likely to be  procured and in particular suggest what might change in the event that the LEP/West Yorkshire Combined Authority is granted devolved powers.

Key areas to be discussed will include:

• What the Northern Powerhouse is and what it means and what it can deliver
• How will this benefit the region and will it just be the cities of Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield that see any change
• Who will be the parties making decisions?
• What is Leeds City Council’s role and influence?
• What collaboration is needed and with whom?
• How will the political concept translate to outcomes for businesses and people in the North
• How will SMEs and small businesses in the region benefit (Many ACE member firms are small practices)
• What can businesses do to help support the agenda?

The event takes place at Pinsent Masons Leeds office at 1 Park Row on Tuesday 17 March from 1.30pm until 4.00pm

To reserve a place contact Raymond Davies - rdavies@acenet.co.uk