TOMORROW, (Thursday, March 23) Tees Valley businesses will have a chance to put their questions to the Mayoral candidates ahead of the election on May 4.

After detailed consultation with our members we compiled a manifesto with what they want to see delivered by whoever is elected to this vitally important new position.

Our document covers a range of issues crucial to Tees Valley’s future development such as skills and inward investment.

Chamber members wholeheartedly support the measures set out in the Tees Valley Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) which was published last year and our Manifesto for the Mayor seeks to build on these.

The Mayor would be an economic figurehead for the Tees Valley and be critical to helping the region punch above its weight.

Skills is consistently named by businesses as their most important issue going forward.

The new Mayor has a responsibility to deliver the SEP skills agenda and support work to attract and retain talented people, particularly graduates in the region.

If this person is to be successful they will also need to ensure the links between business and education links are as strong as they can be.

Historically the development agency One North East’s regional image campaign put us on the national and international stage.

With the Mayor’s election, we can get Tees Valley’s promotion underway so much more effectively.

There will be a well-recognised figurehead at the helm of any PR.

This will play a major part in its future economic success.

This leads me on to the visitor economy an intrinsic part of our potential for growth, in particular if we partner with trailblazing destination agencies such as Visit Yorkshire.

Our Manifesto for the Mayor also covers the all-important issue of infrastructure.

Darlington station is one of the most pressing issues.

We need to secure investment to ensure it can exploit the HS2 trains travelling on the East Coast Mainline.

We have also called on the successful candidate to be brave in their political decisions and champion regional projects which are not necessarily in the Tees Valley itself but would benefit the area.

The hustings, where you can find out at first-hand more about the candidates will take place at Wynyard Hall.

Further information on the event is available at http://bit.ly/2mskjW2

James Ramsbotham is chief executive at the North East England Chamber of Commerce