Great North: one brand to rule them all
Plus an Opportunity Index, and the Glasshouse looks back on 20 years of impact
It's been the UKREiiF big investment conference this week, and the unveiling of a new branding for the North, spearheaded by North East mayor Kim McGuinness.
I say a new brand, it's actually one you'll know, as they've borrowed it from the Great North Run.
There's a focus on clean energy, transport investment and a creative sector offer, amongst other things.
It's easy to be cynical about these things, but I don't mind this, I don't think.
It will have more resonance at big property conferences like UKREiiF or it's glamorous French cousin MIPIM than it will with actual real people, but for that purpose it'll do a job.
If it helps get to a point where the big powers of the North are working together instead of competing for investment, then that's a positive - if someone turns up with money to spend, we should make sure they end up in the right place, not just our place.
Sutton Trust: North East poor for opportunity
The Sutton Trust has published an Opportunity Index, which looks at the variation in outcomes for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
East Ham in London tops the list for outcomes, while Newcastle Central is at the bottom. The top 20 constituencies for opportunity are in London, and 42 of the top 50.
Free school meals pupils show a 30 percentage point gap in attainment between East Ham and Newcastle Central at GCSE grade 5 maths and English.
Newcastle's FSM recipients are significantly less likely to get a degree, and less likely to end up in the top 20% of earners.
There's a link from the main Index page to an interactive map, where you can see that just three North East constituencies - Tynemouth, Bishop Auckland and Stockton West - are above average for opportunity.
Newcastle Central is the worst (543rd), but Cramlington and Killingworth is second worst (542nd), and a further three constituencies in the region are also in the 500s.
The Glasshouse at 20
A bit of positivity after that negativity, the Glasshouse is celebrating 20 years of music on the Gateshead Quayside.
This is another bit of UKREiiF news, as that's where they are launching a report today which details the social and economic impact of the venue.
The big headlines are £38.6m in economic impact each year, supporting 750 jobs either directly or in the supply chain, and a social value contribution worth £11 for every £1 of investment.
They also support artist development, run educational programmes, and put on a wide and varied set of performances.
It's probably the only place where I could go to something that’s perfect for my father in law one day (although not being local he has issues with Gateshead’s road layouts and bus lane cameras), and then something perfect for his grandson the next. Except for something involving steam trains, they'd both like that.
The report is worth a look through, as it tells some of the story of how the venue came to be, details some of the specific programmes and artists supported, and looks ahead to the future too.
Working with me
I'm pretty much booked up through until the end of June now, but I have some time available in July, before hopefully winding down for much of August.
Get in touch if there's anything I can help with in the meantime, I'm on arlen@arlenpettitt.co.uk.