The Northern Powerhouse Partnership

What The Northern Powerhouse Partnership does

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) is a private, business-led think tank and advocacy organization founded in September 2016 and headquartered in Northenden, United Kingdom. It operates as a membership-based organization that convenes major corporations, civic leaders, and academic institutions across the North of England to influence regional economic policy. Its stated purpose is to close the North-South economic gap in productivity, connectivity, and educational attainment by advocating for three core priorities: connectivity (transport and digital infrastructure), devolution of powers to metro mayors and local leaders, and education and skills reform.

NPP's products are non-technological in nature. Its core offerings consist of policy research publications (e.g., the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review, State of the Humber 2026, Rotherham's Economic Transformation, decarbonisation and innovation reports), news and opinion content distributed via its website and social channels, direct policy advocacy to national government ministers and regional metro mayors, and a corporate membership program. The organization does not develop proprietary software, AI systems, or APIs. Its research output relies on in-house policy analysis (notably through Chief Economist Andrew McPhillips) combined with co-development partnerships, such as the State of the Humber 2026 report produced with member firm Arup.

The business model is subscription/recurring membership revenue. Approximately 14 major corporate members — including Arup, Mace, Siemens, Drax, Manchester Airports Group (MAG), Arcadis, Addleshaw Goddard, ABP, AtkinsRealis, National Grid, Mott MacDonald, EY, Rolls-Royce SMR, and Muse — pay annual fees to access research, contribute to publications, and participate in policy advocacy. Specific fee tiers are not publicly disclosed. Governance is provided by Co-Presidents former Chancellor George Osborne and former Treasury Minister Lord Jim O'Neill, Chair Baroness Julie Elliott, and Chief Executive Henri Murison.

Name

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership

Legal name

Northern Powerhouse Partnership

Website

https://northernpowerhousepartnership.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership is a UK business-led think tank and advocacy group founded in 2016 that convenes major corporations and civic leaders across Northern England to influence regional economic policy on connectivity, devolution, and education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Advocacy and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Policy advocacy services
• Economic development research
• Regional economic policy
• Business membership organization
• Think tank publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Northenden

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The organization operates as a business-led membership organization, with companies paying to become members. Member companies include Arup, Mace, Siemens, Drax, MAG, Arcadis, Addleshaw Goddard, ABP, AtkinsRealis, National Grid, Mott MacDonald, EY, Rolls-Royce SMR, and others. Revenue appears to come from annual membership fees paid by businesses and organizations seeking to influence and contribute to Northern economic policy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership is a business-led think tank and advocacy organization for the North of England. It operates a corporate membership program, conducts policy research and produces publications (e.g., State of the Humber 2026, Rotherham's Economic Transformation, Decarbonisation reports), and advocates directly to national and local government on three core priorities: connectivity, devolution, and education. Its members include major corporations such as Arup, Mace, Siemens, Drax, National Grid, EY, and Rolls-Royce SMR.

Product overview

The Northern Powerhouse Partnership is a business-led think tank and advocacy organization (not a technology product company). Its offerings consist of policy research publications, news and opinion content, advocacy for the Northern Powerhouse agenda, and a membership program connecting business and civic leaders across the North of England.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program A business and civic leadership membership program for large corporations and organizations across the North of England, including Arup, Mace, Siemens, Drax, MAG, Arcadis, Addleshaw Goddard, ABP, AtkinsRealis, National Grid, Mott MacDonald, EY, and Rolls-Royce SMR. Members participate in regional economic policy advocacy, research, and direct engagement with government.
• Policy Research Publications
• Policy Advocacy Services Advocacy services promoting the Northern Powerhouse agenda on three core priorities — connectivity, devolution, and education — to national government, metro mayors, and local authorities, driving economic growth and productivity in the North of England.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research suggests £1 trillion GVA prize potential for the North if growth potential is realized between 2035-2050
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• MusemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Muse joined NPP in 2026 as a member, bringing experience in delivering complex, long-term regeneration projects. Muse is a leading nationwide placemaker with over 40 years of experience working in partnership with the public sector. The company contributes expertise in infrastructure-led regeneration, masterplanning, and delivery models that align transport investment with commercial development.
• Durham University Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPP signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Durham University Business School in early 2026, creating a framework for collaboration supporting rigorous research, stronger policy development, and long-term economic growth across the North. The agreement formalizes a relationship with DUBS contributing analytical expertise to NPP's work on innovation, productivity, and regional economic performance. Early focus areas include understanding how regional value is created and retained, strengthening innovation ecosystems, and creating conditions for higher growth and better jobs.
• ArupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArup partnered with NPP on 'The State of the Humber 2026' report, providing economic analysis and technical expertise. Arup is a global built environment consultancy providing advisory and technical expertise. The partnership produces economic research reports that inform policy decisions across the North.
• National GridcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Grid joined NPP as a member in late 2025 to strengthen joint efforts to power the North's growth and skills future. Through the Great Grid Upgrade, National Grid is investing to increase network capacity and connect more clean power, including through major projects such as Eastern Green Link 2 and Yorkshire GREEN.
• Sellafield LtdmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSellafield Ltd partners with NPP on education and skills initiatives. With an annual £2.3 billion budget and an 11,000-strong workforce, Sellafield is investing heavily in education and skills infrastructure including a Project Academy, UTC facilities, and the National College for Nuclear Northern Hub. Currently has over 1,100 learners on various schemes.
• MorrisonsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMorrisons CEO Rami Baitiéh has publicly supported NPP's Northern Powerhouse Rail initiatives, highlighting the importance of improved connectivity for businesses across the North.
• Bruntwood and Bruntwood SciTechminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCEO Chris Oglesby has publicly supported NPP's Northern Powerhouse Rail commitments, emphasizing that reliable connectivity is fundamental to a modern productive economy.
• Manchester Airports Group (MAG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCEO Ken O'Toole has publicly supported Northern Powerhouse Rail, highlighting that placing Manchester Airport at the heart of the NPR network will help high-value industries thrive and attract investors.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Onward: Centre-right UK think tank focused on levelling up, regional growth, and devolution. Closely comparable to NPP in policy agenda and political positioning, with similar publication and advocacy model.
• New Local: UK membership network and think tank for community-led organisations and local authorities. Comparable membership-supported advocacy model with research and policy influence on place-based economic policy.
• IPPR North: Northern arm of the Institute for Public Policy Research, producing progressive policy research on the North of England's economy, devolution, and public services. Closely comparable remit to NPP from a left-of-centre perspective.
• Centre for Cities: UK urban-economics think tank producing data-driven research on city productivity, transport, and devolution. Highly comparable to NPP as a business-facing research and advocacy body focused on UK regional economic performance.
• Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES): UK charity and think tank focused on local economic strategy, community wealth building, and devolution. Directly comparable as a mission-driven advocacy and research organization engaging local authorities and civic leaders.
• Northern Health Science Alliance: North-of-England partnership of leading universities, NHS trusts, and industry focused on health innovation and economic growth. Comparable as a North-focused, business-and-institution-backed advocacy and research alliance.
• UK2070 Commission: Independent commission investigating spatial inequalities across the UK and making recommendations on rebalancing. Comparable as a research-led advocacy body focused on reducing UK regional disparities, although a project rather than ongoing membership org.
• Localis: UK think tank focused on devolution, localism, and place-based policy. Comparable membership-supported model with research and advocacy on regional economic policy.

Emerging players

• Resolution Foundation: UK economic and social policy think tank focused on living standards and inequality. Comparable as a high-profile UK research and advocacy outfit, though with a broader, less regionally-focused remit than NPP.
• SMF (Social Market Foundation): Centrist UK think tank producing cross-cutting economic and public-policy research. Comparable as a non-partisan research and advocacy outfit, though with national rather than regional focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NP_Partnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-northern-powerhouse-partnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Northern Powerhouse Partnership