Shaping the Future of the Tees Valley
The Tees Valley Plan for Regional Prosperity sets out the region's long-term ambitions for growth. It will help shape conversations about investment, infrastructure, skills and economic development for years to come.
That’s why what it says, and just as importantly what it doesn’t say, matters.
When Tees Maritime was established, we believed the River Tees deserved to be recognised as more than a geographical feature or a collection of individual ports. It is the asset that connects businesses, industries and communities across the region. From advanced manufacturing and clean energy to logistics, engineering and international trade, the river underpins much of the Tees Valley economy.
Yet that role was rarely reflected in the language of regional policy.
Over the past year, we’ve worked with members, local partners, government and policymakers to make the case that the River Tees should be recognised for what it really is: the thread that connects our maritime economy and one of the region’s greatest strategic assets.
That work didn’t happen through a single meeting or consultation. It was built over months of conversations, evidence gathering and engagement, making sure the experiences and priorities of businesses across our membership were consistently represented whenever the future of the region was being discussed.
The result is that the River Tees is now recognised within the Tees Valley Plan for Regional Prosperity as “a regional unifying asset.”
It’s only four words.
But those four words represent something much bigger.
They recognise that the river is not simply a place where economic activity happens. It is the infrastructure that connects employers, education, investment, communities and opportunity across the Tees Valley. It acknowledges that maritime is not a standalone sector, but an integral part of how the region functions and grows.
Recognition in a strategy document doesn’t create jobs overnight or unlock investment on its own.
What it does is influence the conversations that follow. It provides a stronger foundation for future policy, investment decisions and funding opportunities. It changes how the region is described, which in turn influences how it is understood by government, investors and partners.
This is one of the most important roles a cluster can play.
While our members focus on running their businesses, we work to ensure their collective experience helps shape the decisions that affect them all. That means building relationships, contributing evidence, responding to consultations and maintaining a consistent voice in regional and national conversations.
Most of that work happens quietly. There are no headlines for a meeting that changes a paragraph in a strategy document, or for the months of engagement that make that change possible. But those moments matter because they influence the direction of travel long before projects are announced or funding is allocated.
Seeing the River Tees recognised as a regional unifying asset is therefore much more than a welcome phrase in a policy document. It represents a shared vision of the region, one shaped by industry and supported by the organisations that invest in Tees Maritime.
There is still plenty to do. Recognition is the starting point, not the destination. Our focus now is on working with members, partners and policymakers to ensure that vision is translated into investment, collaboration and opportunities that benefit businesses across the Tees Valley.
This is exactly why Tees Maritime exists. To bring industry together, represent the collective voice of the sector and help shape the decisions that will define the region’s future.
Local Growth Plan here: https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/about/local-growth-plan/
TMC Feedback here: The Enabling Sector – Tees Valley’s Biggest Untapped Advantage