Powerhouse still all a bit of a mystery

A NEW report shows the construction industry lacks awareness of the Government’s Northern Powerhouse initiative.

According to the recent Infrastructure Outlook Report, based on research by Ipsos Mori and commissioned by Tarmac, 86 per cent of 300 infrastructure business leaders interviewed know nothing or little about the Northern Powerhouse — the Government’s vision of northern cities working together to win global deals and compete with major city-regions overseas.

A quarter of respondents said they know only a little about the idea; the same proportion has heard of it but knows nothing about it, while 38 per cent have never heard of it.

But of those who know at least a little about the Northern Powerhouse, attitudes are positive, the survey suggests.

Three quarters think it will make a positive difference to the region’s economy in the next five years and only 16 per cent say it will have no effect.