Equal access to opportunity is at the heart of the mayor’s vision for the North East. To unlock our region’s full potential, we must tap into the diverse talents, skills, and perspectives of all our people.
To truly make the North East the home of opportunity, we need to see equality, diversity, and inclusion not just as values, but as economic imperatives. This means creating an economy that works for everyone—one that ensures no one is left behind, where every individual can contribute to and benefit from our region’s prosperity.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to contribute to the success of the region, and access what they need to live well now and in the future. That means that we’ll help people thrive with aspirational jobs, new skills, and better homes, improving quality of life for everyone. We will also tackle the longstanding and emerging inequalities in our region that prevent people from fulfilling their potential and contributing to the success of the region.
The connection between equity, diversity, inclusion and economic prosperity is clear and undeniable. Evidence shows that in regions where fairness, opportunity, and strong, connected communities are prioritised, everyone benefits. It’s simple: a thriving economy needs a fair economy. When we remove barriers, empower individuals, and build stronger, more resilient communities, we all win.
Equalities Objectives 2025-2028
Our passion for tackling inequality in the North East is reflected in our 2025-2028 Equality Objectives. Our ambitious three-year objectives have been informed by the findings of our first-year transitional objectives, regional data and were co-designed with key stakeholders to build on the progress made during our first year.
These objectives will drive our efforts to create a more inclusive, fair, and forward-thinking North East, one where opportunity is open to all and where we can all take pride in calling the North East home.
Our equality objectives have been designed to reflect the different roles we play as:
- an employer
- a commissioner, and
- a convener.
Role: Employer
Objective: We will build a diverse workplace where all individuals feel valued, respected and empowered to reach their full potential, regardless of background, identity, or personal circumstances – striving to make everyone feel they belong.
Role: Commissioner
Objective: We will invest in services that are accessible and responsive to the needs of all communities and businesses, removing barriers to success and driving economic growth that delivers for all our residents.
Role: Convener
Objective: We will play a strong leadership role in convening partners around regional priorities, building an inclusive and diverse coalition to understand and meet the needs and ambitions of the communities and businesses we serve.
Download the report
The work of creating a fairer North East belongs to everyone – employees, Cabinet members, partners, employers, communities and citizens. A detailed action plan will sit behind these objectives and will be reviewed on an annual basis. We are committed to reporting on the progress we make against these objectives and look forward to celebrating this in the coming years.
To find out more or get involved in our work on tackling inequality, contact our team at equalities@northeast-ca.gov.uk
To view previous work on equalities from the North of Tyne region, including previous annual reports on equalities and our equalities assemblies work, please click here to access the North of Tyne Combined Authority’s work.