What a Northern Powerhouse in Yorkshire means to: TempAuction founder, Tom Rowbottom

As Bdaily’s Northern Powerhouse series continues to give the business people of Yorkshire the opportunity to voice their opinions on the the government’s Northern Powerhouse initiative, we speak with the founder of recruitment platform TempAuction, Tom Rowbottom.

Hi Tom, what do you think the Northern Powerhouse will do for Yorkshire?

The Northern Power House will drive investment into Yorkshire, not only from the South and abroad, but also from across the north of England, as improved connectivity will encourage collaboration between the northern towns and cities. Businesses will also be able to increase their reach when recruiting talent for their business, as commute times drop and Yorkshire becomes a more lucrative area to live.

What will the Northern Powerhouse do for TempAuction?

TempAuction connects employers with temporary recruitment agencies across the UK, therefore a buoyant job market provides us with the ideal conditions for growth. The Northern Powerhouse will increase opportunities and investment for northern businesses resulting in growth and economic certainty, which will directly strengthen the job market in the North.

Has the government done enough to convince you of its commitment to Osborne’s vision?

It concerns me that the government is in the driving seat, I think devolution should be fast tracked allowing the northern cities to make the key decisions and take ownership of the Northern Powerhouse development process.

Connectivity has been a major driving force behind the Northern Powerhouse. Do you believe that spending billions on infrastructure will improve the economic climate in the North?

Of course, from my time working within the construction industry it was clear that the sector was the first to be hit by the financial crisis and in turn led the charge out of recession. Investment in infrastructure will have a positive effect on the construction industry and the overall economic climate, however the government does need to strike a careful balance, not only connecting the North with London, but also, and more importantly, providing efficient and effective transport networks across the region.

What, if any, other sectors/industries should the government key in on to achieve a Northern Powerhouse?

Independently owned businesses, from any sector, should be the main focus of the government, rather than large corporations looking to profit from economic growth of the region. Investment in the north should provide business opportunities, improve career prospects and have a positive impact on the people that live here, in turn helping to reduce the North-South migration of our young talent.

Are there any other areas which you believe money should be spent on, ahead of transport?

To help manage the environmental impact of the scheme, digital communication infrastructure should not be over-looked. These days we don’t need to drive 100 miles to have a face to face conversation, however in the north of England there are many areas without fibre broadband or 3G mobile connectivity, let alone 4G, so the North is already at a great disadvantage.

As with the Sheffield, should the other regions in Yorkshire try to strike a devolution deal with the government?

Absolutely, it is critical that the key decision makers have a strong understanding of and commitment to each region. Devolution will promote this and will lead to greater support from the local communities and businesses.

Will the Northern Powerhouse be realised in Yorkshire?

Over the recent years so many independent businesses have been established here. Bars, restaurants, digital agencies and tech start-ups can be found all over the towns, cites and in between. To most of us, we are already a powerhouse and are very proud of where we work and live.

Thank you Tom.

Don’t miss our latest Northern Powerhouse coverage here. To nominate a Yorkshire business leader to be part of our new series, contact Nick at nick.hill@bdaily.co.uk

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