State of the North 2017: The Millennial Powerhouse

Article

In 2030 the northern powerhouse will be run by the millennial generation. For the first time they and their successors will make up the majority of the electorate, and will form the overwhelming majority of the workforce: millennials (aged 22–37) and ‘Generation Z’ (aged 21 and younger) will be a political and economic force for change in the North and across the country.

This new generation must unlock northern potential much more effectively than their predecessors. They will have to meet significant new challenges, and seize new opportunities that arise.

To meet these challenges the North’s millennials need to push for devolution. In the 21st century, the country and the world will need the North’s assets more than ever before. Without devolution they will continue to be wasted, as they were throughout much of the 20th century.

Related items

  1. The inside of a bus. Lots of people sit or stand on a bus during daylight

    A people-focussed future for transport in England

    Our findings from three roundtables on the impact of transport in people’s lives and the priorities for change.
  2. Many national flags against blue sky

    Progressive renewal: The Global Progress Action Summit

    A quarter of the way through this century, change is in the air. Everyone, everywhere, seemingly all at once, wants out of the status quo.

  3. Insurgent government: How mainstream parties can fight off populism and rebuild trust in politics

    Across the western world it feels like a sea change is occurring in our politics. At the heart of this is a simple fact: large numbers of people increasingly feel that mainstream politics is failing to deliver for them.