At our recent Annual Dinner, I shared why I’m more optimistic about the North West’s economic future than I’ve been for years.

That confidence is driven by what is already happening across our region. We have world-class businesses competing successfully in international markets, entrepreneurs starting and growing businesses, and substantial public investment commitments that can help us build on the progress we’re making.

It’s clear that Government must deliver on its commitments, including developing Magee as a university of scale and investing in the skills and infrastructure our economy needs. We in Chamber have spent much of this year pressing for delivery, and we'll keep doing that.

But public investment is only part of our story. At the dinner, I really enjoyed hearing from our panels of established and emerging entrepreneurs. Their individual stories highlighted the importance of recognising opportunities and having the ambition, determination and self-belief to pursue them.

placeholder image — Chamber President Steven Lindsay.

These are challenging times for businesses. Yet across the North West, people are continuing to recognise opportunities, develop ideas, and build successful businesses.

Successful businesses don’t wait for someone else to build their future. We build on what we have, take risks and back ourselves.

Perhaps there is a lesson in that for the North West as a whole.

None of us can transform the North West economy on our own. But the decisions we each make can add up to something much bigger. We have considerable strengths to build on, including our businesses, our people, and the connections that make us a distinctive cross-border economy.

Across the North West, people are continuing to recognise opportunities, develop ideas, and build successful businesses.

By building a stronger North West economy together, more people can share in the benefits this creates. Economic growth creates opportunities for people to build careers, businesses, and good lives. Supporting local businesses, retaining more of the wealth we generate in our communities and widening participation in our economy can help make that happen.

We have good reasons to be confident about our future. We have the talent and opportunities. Let's not wait for others. Let's have the confidence to back ourselves and the ambition to do more.

The North West’s economic future is ours to build. Let's get on with building it.

- Chamber President Steven Lindsay.