The North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB; cy, Bwrdd Uchelgais Economaidd Gogledd Cymru), branded as Ambition North Wales ( cy, Uchelgais Gogledd Cymru), is a joint committee and decision-making body overseeing the North Wales Growth Deal ( cy, Bargen Twf Gogledd Cymru or cy, label=none, Bargen Twf y Gogledd), a
regional economic growth deal
Growth deals provide funds from the Government of the United Kingdom to Local enterprise partnership, local enterprise partnerships, for projects that benefit the local area and economy. They are promoted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities a ...
covering the
North Wales
, area_land_km2 = 6,172
, postal_code_type = Postcode
, postal_code = LL, CH, SY
, image_map1 = Wales North Wales locator map.svg
, map_caption1 = Six principal areas of Wales common ...
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
. It is a partnership between the six
local authorities
Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-loca ...
of
Conwy County Borough
Conwy County Borough ( cy, Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy) is a county borough in Wales. It borders Gwynedd to the west and south, and Denbighshire to the east. Other settlements in the county borough include Abergele, Betws-y-Coed, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, ...
,
Denbighshire
Denbighshire ( ; cy, Sir Ddinbych; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name. This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewy ...
,
Flintshire
, settlement_type = County
, image_skyline =
, image_alt =
, image_caption =
, image_flag =
, image_shield = Arms of Flint ...
,
Gwynedd
Gwynedd (; ) is a county and preserved county (latter with differing boundaries; includes the Isle of Anglesey) in the north-west of Wales. It shares borders with Powys, Conwy County Borough, Denbighshire, Anglesey over the Menai Strait, and C ...
,
Isle of Anglesey
Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island, ...
, and
Wrexham County Borough
Wrexham County Borough ( cy, Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam) is a county borough, with city status, in the north-east of Wales. It borders England to the east and south-east, Powys to the south-west, Denbighshire to the west and Flintshire to the nort ...
, and other local partners in the region, including
Bangor University
, former_names = University College of North Wales (1884–1996) University of Wales, Bangor (1996–2007)
, image = File:Arms_of_Bangor_University.svg
, image_size = 250px
, caption = Arms
...
,
Wrexham Glyndŵr University
, mottoeng = Confidence through Education
, logo = Wrexham Glyndŵr University Logo.svg
, image = Coat of arms of Wrexham Glyndŵr.svg
, image_size = 180px
, caption = Coat of arms
Flag
, established = 1887, as Wrexham School of Scien ...
,
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai (GLlM) is an umbrella organisation overseeing the operation of three member colleges in North Wales: Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Menai and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor.
It is Wales's largest further-education (FE) institution and one o ...
,
Coleg Cambria
Coleg Cambria in North East Wales is one of the UK's largest colleges, with over 7000 full-time and 20,000 part-time students, and has international links covering four continents. Coleg Cambria was created following the merger of Deeside College ...
, and various private sector representatives.
The North Wales Growth Deal was signed on 17 December 2020, spanning 15 years. Unlike the city regions in
South Wales
South Wales ( cy, De Cymru) is a loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, south Wales extends westwards ...
, North Wales lacks a definitive main economic and urban centre, with settlements such as
Bangor,
Llandudno
Llandudno (, ) is a seaside resort, town and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales, located on the Creuddyn peninsula, which protrudes into the Irish Sea. In the 2011 UK census, the community – which includes Gogarth, Penrhyn Bay, Craigsi ...
,
Deeside
Deeside ( cy, Glannau Dyfrdwy) is the name given to a predominantly industrial conurbation of towns and villages in Flintshire and Cheshire
Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the ...
,
Holyhead
Holyhead (,; cy, Caergybi , "Cybi's fort") is the largest town and a community in the county of Isle of Anglesey, Wales, with a population of 13,659 at the 2011 census. Holyhead is on Holy Island, bounded by the Irish Sea to the north, and is ...
and
Wrexham
Wrexham ( ; cy, Wrecsam; ) is a city and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough in Wales. It is located between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley, near the border with Cheshire in England. Historically in the count ...
all having roles in the regional economy. The deal involves £240 million committed by the UK and Welsh Governments (£120 million each), with the remaining £906 million from other partners in the public and private sector, totalling the deal to be worth £1.1 billion. This funding was committed on 4 November 2019, with the deal itself signed on 17 December 2020.
Principal areas
The population, density and areas are estimates for from the
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics (ONS; cy, Swyddfa Ystadegau Gwladol) is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the UK Parliament.
Overview
The ONS is responsible for th ...
.
Governance
The North Wales Economic Ambition Board is the sponsoring group and the decision-making local government body for the North Wales Growth Deal. The NWEAB considers and approves project business cases, and is responsible for the delivery of growth deal programmes and project boards, in line with the deal's aims and objectives. The board also was responsible for securing government funding for the growth deal during its bidding process. The board's Portfolio Management Office (PMO) is based in the Conwy Business Centre, in
Llandudno Junction
Llandudno Junction ( cy, Cyffordd Llandudno), once known as Tremarl, is a village in the county borough of Conwy, Wales. It is part of the ancient parish of Llangystennin, and it is located south of Llandudno. It adjoins Deganwy and is to the ...
,
Conwy County Borough
Conwy County Borough ( cy, Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy) is a county borough in Wales. It borders Gwynedd to the west and south, and Denbighshire to the east. Other settlements in the county borough include Abergele, Betws-y-Coed, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, ...
.
The NWEAB is composed of the six principal council leaders and chief executives, representatives from two
further
Further or Furthur may refer to:
* ''Furthur'' (bus), the Merry Pranksters' psychedelic bus
* Further (band), a 1990s American indie rock band
* Furthur (band), a band formed in 2009 by Bob Weir and Phil Lesh
* ''Further'' (The Chemical Brothers a ...
and two
higher education
Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after completi ...
(university) institutions and the Business Delivery Board, representing the private sector. Meetings of the board take place monthly.
Gwynedd Council
Cyngor Gwynedd ( en, Gwynedd Council) is the governing body for the county of Gwynedd, one of the principal areas of Wales. The council administrates internally using the Welsh language.
History
The county of Gwynedd was created in 1974 under ...
is the host authority, responsible for holding the meetings, and managing financial statements for the board. Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn, leader of Gwynedd Council is the Chair of the board, and Councillor Mark Pritchard, leader of
Wrexham County Borough Council
Wrexham County Borough Council () is the governing body for Wrexham County Borough, a Principal area of Wales, principal area in North Wales, north Wales, covering Wrexham and the surrounding area.
History
Elections take place every five years ...
as Vice-chair. Voting rights of the board are only reserved for council leaders.
An Executive Support Group (or Portfolio Board) was established to act as an advisory body to the board and is composed of senior officers of the partner organisations in the partnership to assist in the development and delivery of the deal's various projects.
History
The North Wales Economic Ambition Board published the "Growth Vision for the Economy of North Wales" in September 2016, setting out the regional plan for improving infrastructure, skills, employment, business growth and innovation. The vision was subsequently adopted by all six councils of the committee.
In the
March 2017 UK budget, the UK Government announced it was looking forward to proposals for a North Wales Growth Deal.
In November 2018, in the
2018 Autumn Budget, UK
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The chancellor of the Exchequer, often abbreviated to chancellor, is a senior minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and head of His Majesty's Treasury. As one of the four Great Offices of State, the Chancellor is ...
,
Philip Hammond
Philip Hammond, Baron Hammond of Runnymede (born 4 December 1955) is a British politician and life peer who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2016 to 2019, Foreign Secretary from 2014 to 2016, and Defence Secretary from 2011 to 2014. ...
, announced the UK Government's commitment of £120 million towards a North Wales Growth Deal. In December 2018,
Ken Skates
Kenneth Christian Skates MS (born 2 April 1976) is a Welsh Labour politician. Skates has represented the constituency of Clwyd South in the Senedd since the election of 2011. He is an alumnus of the University of Cambridge, and worked as a j ...
confirmed that the
Welsh Government
The Welsh Government ( cy, Llywodraeth Cymru) is the Welsh devolution, devolved government of Wales. The government consists of ministers and Minister (government), deputy ministers, and also of a Counsel General for Wales, counsel general. Minist ...
would match the UK Government funding, and also offered to match any additional funding support which the UK Government might make available. In November 2019, the Heads of Terms Agreement for the North Wales Growth Deal was signed by the representatives of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board,
Secretary of State for Wales
The secretary of state for Wales ( cy, ysgrifennydd gwladol Cymru), also referred to as the Welsh secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Wales Office. The incumbent is a member ...
,
Alun Cairns
Alun Hugh Cairns (born 30 July 1970) is a Welsh Conservative Party politician serving as the member of Parliament (MP) for Vale of Glamorgan since 2010. He served as Secretary of State for Wales from 2016 to 2019.
He was previously a member of ...
, and
Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely
Mair Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely (born 16 February 1967) is a Welsh Labour politician serving as Minister for Health and Social Services in the Welsh Government since 2021. Morgan has served as a Member of the House of Lords since 20 ...
on behalf of Welsh Government. The deal was signed on 17 December 2020.
Growth deal
The North Wales Growth Deal ( cy, Bargen Twf Gogledd Cymru or cy, label=none, Bargen Twf y Gogledd) involves £240 million committed by the UK and Welsh Governments (£120 million each), with the remaining funding provided from other partners in the public (£184.3 million) and private sectors (£722.1 million), totalling the deal to be worth £1.1 billion over 15 years.
The partnership describes the aims of the deal to be; building a more vibrant, sustainable and resilient economy, boosting productivity and other strengths to tackle long-term issues, and to promote scalable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Its objectives were set by the board to be: creating 3,400 - 4,200 jobs and generating between £2 billion and £2.5 billion in additional
Gross value added
In economics, gross value added (GVA) is the measure of the value of goods and services produced in an area, industry or sector of an economy. "Gross value added is the value of output minus the value of intermediate consumption; it is a measure of ...
(GVA) by 2036.
The deal is organised into five programmes, focusing on a particular sector of the North Wales economy, the programmes being;
* Low Carbon Energy
* Digital
* Agrifood & Tourism
* Innovation in High-Value Manufacturing
* Land & Property
Post-signing projects
The first project under the growth deal to be approved was the £3 million investment into new equipment in the Digital Signal Processing Centre (DSP) at
Bangor University
, former_names = University College of North Wales (1884–1996) University of Wales, Bangor (1996–2007)
, image = File:Arms_of_Bangor_University.svg
, image_size = 250px
, caption = Arms
...
, and the first project to commence was the £35 million Morlais renewable energy scheme.
Partners and associated bodies
The partnership is composed of the following members:
*
Conwy County Borough Council
Conwy County Borough Council ( cy, Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy) is the local authority for Conwy County Borough, one of the principal areas of Wales.
History
Conwy County Borough was created in 1996 under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994 ...
*
Denbighshire County Council
Denbighshire County Council is the unitary local authority for the county of Denbighshire, one of the principal areas of Wales. The council is based at County Hall in Ruthin.
Elections take place every five years. The last election was on 5 Ma ...
*
Flintshire County Council
Flintshire County Council is the unitary local authority for the county of Flintshire, one of the principal areas of Wales. It is based at County Hall in Mold.
Elections take place every five years. The last election was on 5 May 2022.
Histor ...
*
Gwynedd Council
Cyngor Gwynedd ( en, Gwynedd Council) is the governing body for the county of Gwynedd, one of the principal areas of Wales. The council administrates internally using the Welsh language.
History
The county of Gwynedd was created in 1974 under ...
*
Isle of Anglesey County Council
The Isle of Anglesey County Council ( cy, Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn) is the local authority for the county of Anglesey, one of the principal areas of Wales. Since 2022 the council has 35 councillors who represent 11 multi-member electoral wards.
His ...
*
Wrexham County Borough Council
Wrexham County Borough Council () is the governing body for Wrexham County Borough, a Principal area of Wales, principal area in North Wales, north Wales, covering Wrexham and the surrounding area.
History
Elections take place every five years ...
*
Bangor University
, former_names = University College of North Wales (1884–1996) University of Wales, Bangor (1996–2007)
, image = File:Arms_of_Bangor_University.svg
, image_size = 250px
, caption = Arms
...
*
Wrexham Glyndŵr University
, mottoeng = Confidence through Education
, logo = Wrexham Glyndŵr University Logo.svg
, image = Coat of arms of Wrexham Glyndŵr.svg
, image_size = 180px
, caption = Coat of arms
Flag
, established = 1887, as Wrexham School of Scien ...
*
Coleg Cambria
Coleg Cambria in North East Wales is one of the UK's largest colleges, with over 7000 full-time and 20,000 part-time students, and has international links covering four continents. Coleg Cambria was created following the merger of Deeside College ...
*
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai (GLlM) is an umbrella organisation overseeing the operation of three member colleges in North Wales: Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Menai and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor.
It is Wales's largest further-education (FE) institution and one o ...
A Portfolio Management Office was established by the partnership to initially develop and deliver the Growth Vision plan and later the Growth Deal plan. Following the growth deal's signing, its present role is to support the delivery of the aims set in the growth deal, by identifying gaps in the skills, knowledge or capacity of the local workforce.
Outside the growth deal, the partnership works with two other advisory bodies:
* North Wales Regional Skills Partnership — oversees a Skills and Employment Programme in North Wales to develop the skill base of the region to be more dynamic and agile, and to close the skills gap, by matching the skills required by employers to be developed in the workforce.
* Business Delivery Board — represents employers and the business sector in the region
Sub-boards:
* Transport Sub-board — established by the partnership to support transport investment initiatives in the region, the sub-board co-operates with
Transport for Wales
Transport for Wales (TfW; cy, Trafnidiaeth Cymru; cy, TrC, label=none) is a not-for-profit company owned by the Welsh Government and managed at arms length by its appointed board. TfW oversees the Transport for Wales Group (TfW Group) consi ...
and the Welsh Government in their
North Wales Metro
The North Wales Metro (; originally the North East Wales Metro; ) is a rail and bus transport improvement programme in north Wales. Styled as a "Metro", it is conceptually a multi-modal system with a combination of bus, heavy rail, and light rail ...
project.
Two principal councils, Flintshire and Wrexham, are part of the Mersey Dee Alliance, which the board also works with.
See also
*
North Wales
, area_land_km2 = 6,172
, postal_code_type = Postcode
, postal_code = LL, CH, SY
, image_map1 = Wales North Wales locator map.svg
, map_caption1 = Six principal areas of Wales common ...
*
Growth deal
Growth deals provide funds from the Government of the United Kingdom to Local enterprise partnership, local enterprise partnerships, for projects that benefit the local area and economy. They are promoted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities a ...
*
Regional economy in Wales
Regional economy in Wales is centred on four regional economic boards in Wales. Each board oversees a city deal, city or growth deal, signed between 2016 and 2022, lasting 10–15 years. Two of the deals are city deals signed and proposed by th ...
References
External links
Ambition North Wales website
{{City regions of the United Kingdom
North Wales
Regionalism (politics) in the United Kingdom