West Yorkshire has finally taken its seat at the devolution top table and the implications for the prosperity of our region are massive. Tracy Brabin’s election as Metro Mayor comes with a broad remit and high expectations, but chief amongst her challenges will be communicating the positive impact that devolution can have on our everyday lives.

It is heartening to see that the turnout (at 36%) was the highest ever for a Mayoral election outside of London, so there are already some positive signs that local people are engaged in what a Mayor can do for the region. The election itself was a good reflection on the regional landscape, marked by positive debate and mutual respect between candidates. Giving local people confidence in their elected officials and seeing the tangible benefits they can make, will be a key focus in the coming years.

In our own research for the Social Place Index, in partnership with YouGov, people in our region were, on balance, pessimistic about their local areas’ prospects after Covid-19 – and addressing these perceptions will be crucial. Chief amongst the concerns raised were the likelihood of investment coming through, addressing regional inequalities and the challenges faced by the high street. By helping to tackle these issues head on, the new Mayor can go a long way to winning over public opinion.

Up to now, West Yorkshire has had to watch on as the likes of Ben Houchen, Andy Street and Andy Burnham have played leading roles in their regions. At last, we no longer have to play second-fiddle in the devolution stakes, and we have already seen encouraging signs of what a Metro Mayor for West Yorkshire can do, and the significant voice that Tracy Brabin now has on behalf of all of us. Holding national government to account, making the case for investment and taking inequalities to task, are all part of the day job – and our new Mayor has our full backing in this figurehead role.

For the business community, the Mayor has an opportunity to work closely with businesses of all sizes and sectors, across every corner of West Yorkshire, to ensure our region can look forward with optimism. Inward investment has grown substantially in recent years and the Mayor has an important role in helping to build on this success – as we have seen other Metro Mayors do. The arrival of Channel 4 and the new UK Infrastructure Investment Bank to the region are major opportunities to cement its reputation in key sectors. But it is not just these headline-grabbing acts that provide notes of optimism. Yorkshire has a thriving and entrepreneurial reputation and thousands of exciting young businesses. This energy can mark us out as different and give us a competitive edge on an international stage.

A focus on skills will be crucial across so many sectors. More must be done to help produce the quality candidates across sectors such as tech, advanced manufacturing and professional services, that will drive the West Yorkshire economy into a bright future. Having a Metro Mayor will provide region-wide focus on this, allowing education and skills providers to speak as one with the public and private sector. If we are to grow as a region, this ‘one voice’ on future skills requirements is absolutely vital.

Transport is also likely to feature just as highly on the priority list, with a Mayor making the case to cement plans for the Eastern Leg of HS2 (and associated significant station upgrades in Leeds) whilst helping deliver the much-needed Northern Powerhouse Rail plans with a city-centre station in Bradford – a campaign we’ve passionately supported from the outset. These projects aligned, alongside already agreed upgrades of the Transpennine line between Manchester and York (including crucial improvements to connectivity in key towns such as Huddersfield), can be a real driver for growth for West Yorkshire as a whole.

Local transport will also be moved higher up the agenda and is likely to be a more important topic for many. Having a coordinated local transport network, which delivers employees to their place of work, students to their place of study and visitors to some of our region’s top attractions, is essential. As one of her first acts, Tracy Brabin has already set out plans for a major overhaul of the bus network and will no-doubt play a big role in mooted mass-transit schemes, which seek to improve connectivity and would make a major positive impact on individuals and businesses.

As a business which has worked extensively on the placemaking agenda, we’re extremely encouraged by the early positive signs. Some of our own areas of focus are likely to see some of the biggest impacts – property, infrastructure, culture, education and transport. Having a Mayor working proactively with these industries and their leaders can help to deliver real change, and the opportunity is there to grab.

As we emerge from the Covid pandemic, the region’s challenges have fundamentally shifted, and a new Mayor can provide fresh impetus into how our future can be shaped. By working collaboratively with business, a new Mayor can help shape our economic destiny and provide a strong voice. As many have said before, a strong Northern economy is a part of the solution for the UK as a whole, and we now have the tools in place to make that a reality. With transport, skills, infrastructure and regeneration at the top of the immediate ‘to-do’ list, our new Mayor represents a step-change for West Yorkshire that can be a hugely significant catalyst for growth.