LEADERS at Teesside University have committed to playing a major role in responding to Lord Heseltine's report designed to breathe new economic life into Teesside.

Lord Heseltine published his report, Tees Valley: Opportunity Unlimited, earlier this month following last year's closure of the SSI steelworks in Redcar.

The report offers a number of recommendations to; “secure a strong and sustainable economic future for the Tees Valley,” spanning industrial and urban regeneration; education, employment; the energy economy; housing; transport infrastructure; and leisure, environment and tourism.

Tees Valley politicians, business leaders and other community leaders are planning a co-ordinated response to the report and now Teesside University is committed to taking part.

Professor Jane Turner, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and Business Engagement), has already taken her place on the Shadow Board of the South Tees Development Corporation.

She said: “The value of Lord Heseltine’s report is that it has brought to the attention of the rest of the UK and beyond what those of us who live here already know: that there is some outstanding innovation going on in the Tees Valley, not least here at Teesside University.

"We want to have a serious conversation with schools, colleges and the business community about what this region is going to look like in 20 years’ time and therefore what skills are required. Currently 60 per cent of our students come from the Tees Valley so we are perfectly placed to respond.”