YORKSHIRE must be at the heart of the Government’s plans for the Northern Powerhouse, if the idea is to be a success, the CBI’s president told the organisation’s annual Yorkshire and Humber dinner last night.

Paul Drechsler said: “We can’t just be satisfied with ‘Manchester Plus’. One third of the population of the Northern Powerhouse are from Yorkshire – including the Minister responsible for it.”

Mr Drechsler, chairman of the family-owned Bibby Line Group and Teach First, said devolution, education and infrastructure were three areas of great opportunity for the region.

He called on local businesses and the Government to work closely together, and praised the example of Business North, a group comprising senior industry, education and Government leaders. Mr Drechsler also called for the Education Department to change the way schools were graded and give teachers the freedom to tailor their classes.