The Legacy of the Northern Way?

Abstract

The Northern Way (NW) was a pan-regional, multi-level initiative between three English northern regions, set up to promote economic growth and close a £30 billion output gap. Some limited research on progress prior to 2006 exists, but hardly anything about achievements between 2008 and closure in 2011. This paper redresses the limitations with data from existing evaluations and key stakeholder interviews. Findings reveal that partners developed good collaborative working, gathered robust data on critical economic and social issues, and learnt much during 2004–2008. Between 2008 and 2011, activities were refocused on a narrower set of critical priorities and partners developed real policy learning and became a credible voice for the Northern regions. After closure, it became evident that NW left a ‘vacuum’ as an effective coordinator of evidence and views from three Northern regions. Many issues that it sought to address remain as critical today as they did when it was created.

Key Words:

• Northern Way
• economic development
• legacy
• partnership

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joyce Liddle

Joyce Liddle is Professor of Public Leadership and Management at the Institut de Management Public et Gouvernance Territoriale at Aix-Marseille University, France, and Visiting Professor with the Universities of Eastern Finland, Glasgow Caledonian, Northumbria, Edge Hill and Plymouth, UK. She researches in the areas of public leadership, entrepreneurship, territorial governance, partnerships, and networks. She has published over 200 articles, 20 book chapters, and seven edited/authored books, as well as editing an annual series for Emerald publishers on International Public Sector Management.

Christianne Ormston

Christianne Ormston is a research and policy fellow at the Institute for Health at the University of Durham, and researches in the fields of local government, social inclusion, and health-related matters.