Fashion Brand Director Calls for Greater Support to Close North-South Divide
May 6th 2022
A director at a Northern fashion business has said more investment is needed to boost the Northern Powerhouse and help close the North-South divide.
Manchester-based fashion giant Whispering Smith is a creator, importer, wholesaler and distributor of clothing for major high street stores and e-tailers.
Founded in 1967, the company's clothing is sold in more than 240 counties and territories, with showrooms worldwide, including London, New York, Dusseldorf and Madrid.
Director Diane Heslop told Insider: "I regard the Northern Powerhouse as a collective force of businesses, people and government in the North, led by city mayors whose primary aim needs to be reducing the gap between north and south.
"However, not enough has happened in the eight years since this phrase was coined. Yes, we've seen mayors elected and positive noises made on railway investment. But there's been no real tangible change with regards to child poverty and wage gaps.
"Huge health inequalities still exist too and it's likely the pandemic will only exacerbate these issues. The majority of change in the region is driven by business and entrepreneurs rather than politicians."
Heslop said the end of the pandemic represented a key time for the North.
"Post Covid, the North of England is entering a really key stage," she said. "It is vital that the mayor therefore seeks to use his influence with local businesses to try and get staff back into the offices to support the local services such as shops, theatres, restaurants and bars.
"The main issue I'd like to see dominate the agenda is a real and genuine push towards levelling up on pay. More collaboration between cities in the North would be helpful too, but political leaders need to be mindful that each region is understandably fighting for their own interests. That's why collaboration will not work if it involves budgets.
"This was highlighted during the start of the pandemic when individual cities were fighting for themselves with regards to government support."
Heslop added that the success of the Northern Powerhouse initiative had the potential to bring significant benefits for businesses.
"Our business will benefit from a revitalised North," she said. "Levelling up on pay, and an upskilled workforce, will benefit our business - as will investment in public transport infrastructure."
Published via https://www.insidermedia.com/news/national/fashion-brand-director-calls-for-greater-investment-to-close-north-south-divide