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LEVEL UP!

The government’s long-awaited Levelling Up agenda has been published,
prompting mixed reactions from all corners. Here we present the ambitions
for the net zero transition contained within the white paper alongside the
engineering community’s reactions

n February, the government and development investment by undervalued.” He said the levelling-
published its 332-page Levelling more than 40 per cent outside the up agenda was about ending “historic
Up the United Kingdom white Greater Southeast, improving public injustice” and “calling time on the
paper, more than two years after transport connectivity outside London postcode lottery”.
I announcing the flagship policy in its and increasing the number of people But the reaction has been mixed, with
2019 election manifesto. completing high quality skills training praise for the document’s ambition
The white paper set out 12 missions to 200,000 every year in England. and criticism for the lack of funding,
to reduce the gap between the richer Michael Gove, Secretary of State originality and focus, according to Civil
and poorer parts of the UK by 2030. at the Department for Levelling Up, Service World.
They include improving employment Housing and Communities, said: There was no mention of the UK
opportunities and productivity in all “For too many decades, too many economy’s ongoing transition towards
parts of the country, growing research communities have been overlooked and net zero emissions in the official

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