Future Drivers of Change
This part of the Economic Assessment involved a participative process to convert a generic list of over fifty drivers of change into a priority set of drivers bespoke to Northumberland’s economy as the basis for deriving a group of trends which would ultimately determine the future direction of the county.
The adopted approach was built around the question of “How will Northumberland remain competitive in the global economy?” This not only teased out potential strengths and opportunities for the county but also the potential threats to future economic growth. It also facilitated an analysis of how these key economic forces interact, identifying links which could potentially maximise the effectiveness of policy interventions by focussing actions on optimum geographic and economic areas.
This collaborative process went through a number of distinct phases:
- “Developing the Scenarios” Workshop
- “Validating the Drivers” Workshop
- “Back to Northumberland’s Future” Standing Conference
- “Drivers of Change” Workshop
- “Critical Friends” Workshop
The final Drivers Report (PDF, 1.7MB) represents the culmination of this comprehensive process. It details the 13 most influential forces of change which will drive the local economy between 2008 and 2020. The application of these drivers has been constructed around the characteristics of the Northumberland economy as distinct from other regional, national, and international economies. Where possible, the report offers a detailed insight into each driver, including the key linkages between them and the potential direct and indirect interventions that they prompt.
This understanding puts Northumberland in a better position to have a positive influence on the development of the local economy, ensuring that all areas of the county experience sustainable economic growth.