HELLO 2017.

Here I am, back at work with a cheery smile….and salad.

What have you got for me this year then?

Tell you what, in terms of politics, I’ll just ride the rollercoaster of surprise, if I’d done that in 2016 it’d probably have been easier.

We do know what we are doing at the Chamber though, as through the last quarter of 2016 we asked all our members what their priorities for 2017 are and what they would like us to spend our time working on their behalf.

Reading our newly-published Manifesto 2017, we’re going to be busy.

First, members want to make sure Tees Valley has as much influence as possible especially after devolution.

It’s a real opportunity to make sure the money works to make the area more prosperous and a great place to do business and we’ll work closely with the Tees Valley Combined Authority to do it.

Tees Valley will be a leader in the Northern Powerhouse, a major opportunity for our businesses.

Next, it’s to recognise our global strengths and that we are a fantastic exporting region.

Brexit will loom large and members value certainty and the single market and we need to work with Government on that.

There is more than Brexit though, trade to new markets and encouraging new exporters is also a big priority.

If we are going to export we need the connections to do it, which means transport links, road, rail, air, energy and electronic and we have a busy year to come to make sure we get the best deal on Darlington station, rail electrification and Durham Tees Valley Airport.

Competitiveness is next, which means making sure our businesses have access to the right finance through the Business Compass and European Funding, encouraging more women to access funding and helping young people get on to the housing ladder so they can stay in the area.

Members also want to look into what’s happening in our town centres and see how they can be improved.

Finally, members want a working North-East where they can access people with the right skills and there is good quality careers guidance for all and new funding, which opens up opportunities to the unemployed.

It’s also important to get more business engaged with our local schools and universities so we don’t lose the fantastic graduates we train.

So, put the kettle on and then we’ll get stuck in.

Bring it on 2017, we’re ready.

Rachel Anderson is head of policy and representation at the North East England Chamber of Commerce