The Northern Way was launched in 2004 by a coalition of partners across the North, in response to a challenge from John Prescott and Gordon Brown to establish the North of England as an area of exceptional opportunity combining a world-class economy with a superb quality of life, and to close the prosperity gap between the northern regions and the UK average.

The Northern Way aims to change perceptions about the 'North/South divide'.

• We need to shift to an approach based on opportunity - rather than exclusively on need.  Indeed, we stress that a successful North has benefits to the UK as a whole, and that the North contains many examples of excellence to build upon.

• Our approach needs to be based on stronger analysis, establishing clear policy proposals which have credibility and influence on the basis of evidence.

• While the focus on the comparison with the Greater Southeast is relevant, it's also important to adopt a wider set of benchmarks - including international best practice for successful regions.

• While putting the case for public investment where necessary, we stress the important role of the private sector as a driver of the North's economy, and the overriding need to make the North more attractive for private investment.

• Activity at the pan-regional level needs to add value. We don't replicate activity that properly takes place at regional or local level, but instead provide a mechanism to join up activity across boundaries where it makes sense to do so. 

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