Northern Powerhouse Rail would boost international business across the North

Manchester Airport says Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) would drive international business opportunities across the North, helping to boost productivity outside London and rebalance the national economy.

Image credit: MAG Group

Citing the latest UK Trade Barometer gathered by YouGov for Manchester Airport’s parent company MAG and the Growing Together Alliance of business groups, its data shows that in London more than half of businesses (51%) expect to grow their order books in Q3, compared to just 22% in the North.

But, says Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe, there is an opportunity for Government – through its new industrial strategy – to get more businesses trading internationally as a way of driving up productivity and growth outside of London.

Woodroofe said, “When the time taken for surface journeys to airports is reduced, the airport’s catchment area increases. Put simply, more people live within an easy commute than did before – and that helps us attract new routes.

“Research conducted for us by Arup estimates up to another 50 long haul routes could be added to our departure board if NPR is delivered in full and the Northern economy fires on all cylinders. 

“It is no secret this government is on a growth mission. What we have now is clarity – in the form of the Modern Industrial Strategy, which picks out the sectors we have strengths in and that have the highest growth potential.

“The good news is that these industries don’t just exist in London. They are abundant across the North – from AI clusters in Liverpool to medical device specialists in Yorkshire and the “Atom Valley” in Greater Manchester.”

Woodroofe said, “There are lots of reasons NPR would be transformational, but chiefly it will radically improve how easy it is for people across the North to access their international gateway – Manchester Airport.

“It will put trips to key global markets within reach for the first time, encouraging businesses to trade globally.

“To fire on all cylinders, it needs all the Industrial Strategy sectors to maximise their potential right here in the North, creating jobs and driving higher wages.

“My vision for the North is a world in which there are no headlines speculating that an east-west high speed rail line is finally going to be delivered, because we already have it.”

Government is widely expected to make an announcement on NPR before the Labour Party Conference at the end of September.