Government Offices (GOs) represent the interests of 12 government departments in the English regions. They support the departments’ aims of improving economic performance, skills, productivity and innovation. By influencing the priorities set by Government and regional partners for the regional economic development, we assist in their effective delivery.
More information on the national picture
As part of our role we work with One North East to champion the creation of
an enterprise friendly environment. This includes challenging and
supporting local and regional partners, making sure transport,
planning and skills, are focused on delivering an environment
that helpsand promotes business creation and growth.
Additionally, we work closely with regional partners to help influence and
develop the enterprise and innovation agendas in the region and to report
cross-cutting regional intelligence through participation in a wide variety
of steering groups and boards.
Simplified business support
This is the government’s streamlined portfolio of business support
products accessible via Business Link.
In order to make government grants, subsidies and advice more targeted and
easier to access, the Business Support Simplification Programme (BSSP)
reduced the thousands of publicly-funded support schemes to 100 via
one, transparent, easy to find portfolio of products under the easily
identifiable banner, Solutions for Business.
We have been active in:
- organising regional visits by ministers and senior civil servants to
meet a range of businesses and business representatives
- supporting the Regional Minister on matters relating to business and
industry
- providing regional intelligence and analysis
- supporting local areas who were successful with their bids under the
Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) (50 per cent of all LEGI
areas in England are covered by the four programmes in the North
East – South Tyneside, Durham, Redcar and Cleveland and
Wansbeck.)
- development, negotiation and on-going monitoring of local area
agreements to ensure they reflect economic indicators and targets relevant
to the region and reflect the priorities of the Regional Economic Strategy
- promoting the energy agenda as it relates to the Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills' interests
- working with One North East, local authorities and partners to improve
the delivery and simplification of business support through Solutions for
Business
- working with regional partners to take forward the recommendations of
the Sub National
Review, including helping to develop arrangements for the
single integrated regional strategy from 2011.
