By Alison Dunn, CEO of Society Matters Group
“People from Gateshead are good enough to do anything they want to do.” Those words, shared by MP Mark Ferguson during our recent podcast conversation, have stayed with me. They are not just a reflection of personal belief. They are a call to action. The North East is full of potential. We see it in our people, our communities and our ideas. What we need now is the belief and investment to match.
Throughout my career, I have worked in and around systems designed to support people. While those systems have not always delivered as they should, I have never stopped being inspired by the determination and creativity of those who navigate them. From the young person in Byker dreaming of a career in tech, to the carer in Felling who keeps her community going, the North East is full of people who are ready to lead if given the chance.
Mark’s story, from a Gateshead school to Cambridge and then Westminster, is a powerful example of what is possible when talent is recognised and nurtured. But it should not be the exception. It should be the norm. That is why we must focus on building the conditions where opportunity is not just available, but expected.
We already have strong foundations. Our region is home to world-leading innovation in green energy, digital technology and advanced manufacturing. The potential for growth is not hypothetical. It is already happening. With the right support, we can lead the UK’s transition to a cleaner, fairer economy. Projects like the Crown Works Studios in Sunderland, although recently paused, show the scale of ambition that exists here. We must continue to back ideas like these because they do more than create jobs. They build futures.
We also have a strong civic spirit. People in the North East care deeply about their communities. They volunteer, organise, vote and speak up. What some interpret as political disengagement is, in fact, a hunger for meaningful change. People want to be part of shaping their future. They want to be heard and valued.
That is why we must move beyond outdated formulas and frameworks that have overlooked our region. The Treasury’s Green Book may have once prioritised growth in already wealthy areas, but we now have an opportunity to rewrite the rules. Investment should follow potential, not just past performance. And the North East has potential in abundance.
We must also address inequality with honesty and urgency. The recent NHS report showing a ten-year life expectancy gap between babies born in different parts of Gateshead is a stark reminder of what is at stake. But it is also a reminder of what we can change. These outcomes are not inevitable. They are shaped by policy, and policy can be changed.
I believe in this region. I believe in its people. And I believe that with the right vision, we can build a future that is fairer, greener and more inclusive. A future where no one is written off because of their postcode. A future where young people do not have to leave to succeed. A future where belief is not a luxury, but a given.
The North East remembers its past, yes. But more importantly, it is ready to shape its future. Let us invest in that future together.
Listen to the This is the North podcast here: https://www.alisondunn.co.uk/this-is-the-north-podcast