JULY’S budget marked the start of a ticking clock that is counting down to September 4 - D-Day for devolution, writes Mike Matthews.

The Chancellor – who delivered his Long Term Economic Plan for the region from Nifco’s factory before the majority Government was elected - has made promises to the North, all centred around the concept of the Northern Powerhouse.

At the moment, the Northern Powerhouse is just that – a concept; an idea that the North's population of 15 million could come together to create a collective force fit to rival that of London and the South-East. But in practice, how does the North-East, including Tees Valley, take advantage of this?

Manchester is emerging as the ‘model’ when it comes to Mr Osborne’s idea of how the concept should develop.

Politicians from the North-East were quick to voice their concerns after Lord O’Neill, who is the commercial secretary to the Treasury, referred to Manchester as being ‘right at the heart of this’, something that would seem at odds with the idea of the North being generally collaborative.

What cannot be argued with is, wherever the heart of the Powerhouse is, the North-East must be ready to play its part in it.

What is clear now is that the best chance for us to steal a march with the Powerhouse is to make a case for devolution, and this will not be granted without a so-called ‘Metro Mayor’ for both the North-East and Tees Valley areas.

The key to our success will always be collaboration – whether that it through Metro Mayors; the joined up working of our two LEPs; or plugging into Manchester and ensuring we are seen as a viable partner area that can play a huge role in the Northern Powerhouse.

If we can’t work together locally, how can we be expected to do so nationally, with the wider North of England? It is time to let people see what we have; to break down our walls and show ourselves as the engine room of the Northern Powerhouse.

Let’s stop focusing on boundaries and focus on success.

Let’s stop focusing on the past and focus on how success will be achieved in the future.

Let’s get a clear voice, with clear aims that will be heard clearly in the highest offices.

Let’s be collectively and jointly ambitious, but with local independence – recognising the respective strengths of our parts, but also that the sum is greater.

We need to think big, think smart, consider and respect individual sub region’s requirements, but most of all, we need to collaborate and shoot for the moon as a whole North.

Mike Matthews, is managing director of Nifco UK and European operations officer.