TEES Valley is in better shape to create jobs and investment than it was as part of defunct development body OneNorthEast.

That is the view of regional CBI chief Alison Thain, who believes the area's business and development leaders have made huge strides over the last five years, but there remains strong boardroom support for the north and south of the region to join forces under a unified development body.

""Tees Valley Unlimited, and the area's five local authorities have done a great job in helping to secure regional growth funding, and put in place a strategic plan to help drive growth," said Ms Thain, group chief executive and board director of housing association Thirteen Group, who took over from Northumbrian Water boss Heidi Mottram as CBI North East chair in October.

However, Ms Thain revealed that feedback from North-East CBI members suggested there was strong support for the whole region - from Tees Valley to Northumberland - to join forces under a single regional development body, and that many business leaders were keen on the idea of an elected mayor to provide a strong, single point of leadership.

Ms Thain added: "Tees Valley is doing very well on its own terms, but the problem is one of scale. CBI members are saying it it too small to get the attention of national government. Lots of members say that we should be one North-East, but that is not a view shared by the Leps.

"Whatever the next government decides to do in terms of regional development Tees Valley has a strong vision and a sense of shared purpose across business and local government, which is didn't have when it was part of OneNorthEast. That is a huge step forward."

From her base in Middlesbrough, Ms Thain is determined to ensure the voice of Tees Valley is heard loud and clear by regional and national power brokers. She voiced concerns that George Osborne's plan to create a Northern Powerhouse would boost Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Sheffield, but fail to have much impact in our region.

"To be fair to Manchester it got its house in order in terms of being ready to accept new powers. There is a risk that ministers think they have finished with the Northern Powerhouse by involving the North West and parts of Yorkshire. But that would be a mistake as our region has so much to offer the national economy," she added.

The prospect of a hung Parliament after the General Election has prompted the CBI issue an action plan for the first 100 days of the next government which it said would help keep economic growth on track and boost investment. This includes staying on top of public finances, tackling the housing crisis and pressing ahead with reforming the European Union.

The business group said a comprehensive spending review should be launched after the May poll, encompassing more public service reform, an infrastructure commission to break the gridlock in housing construction and a review of education for 14 to 18-year-olds, which would pave the way to scrapping GCSEs and creating vocational A-levels, and extending the 15 hours of free childcare to all one and two-year-olds.

It also expects the new administration to push ahead with a decision on whether Gatwick or Heathrow airport will be expanded.