Arming young people in Cumbria with the skills they need to help drive support the county’s the economy is a top priority, business and political leaders have stressed.

The reassurance was given as a report from the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) found a significant North-South divide in education exists – a divide they say needs to be addressed if the UK is to successfully rebalance the economy.

The report says too many northern young people, especially those from disadvantaged homes, are falling behind other parts of the UK.

Average GCSE scores across eight subjects in 2016/17 among teenagers in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber, was 45.1, compared to a national average of 46.1 and an average of 48.6 in London.

NPP has warned its mission to increase the North’s contribution to the UK economy will not be achieved if the current situation is not improved, and effective steps not taken to deal with the looming skills gap.

Among its recommendations includes a call for businesses in the region to mentor or provide work experience to at least the same number of young people as they have employees. It would provide opportunities for more than 900,000 young people aged 11 upwards across the North.

Carlisle MP John Stevenson, who jointly chairs the recently created Northern Powerhouse all-party Parliamentary group, said education and skills sat alongside infrastructure as the two most important issues for Cumbria and the wider North to address.

“It is right that these issues are highlighted and that business, government and other agencies do their best to close the gap that exists,” he said.

“For me it is about everyone in Carlisle and Cumbria being more aspirational and ambitious. The education system needs to provide young people with the opportunity to learn skills and develop, but I think it is incumbent on all of us to create the environment and atmosphere that helps them to achieve, and in turn, supports local business and the economy.”

Mr Stevenson praised Cumbria’s role in leading the way with apprenticeships, with nearly 11 per cent of Cumbria’s young workforce undertaking apprenticeships

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership wants to increase apprenticeship levels by 20 per cent by 2020. Its head of employability and skills, Craig Ivison, said it also wants to get thousands more people of working age population qualified to Level Four and above.

"Investment in developing the key skills of our future workforce is an integral driver in our strategy to become one of the fastest growing economies in the UK,” he said.

“Future workforce planning plays a major role in that, so we always welcome any measures to embed business skills into schools as early as possible and reinforce their importance to improve future prospects and employability of young people in Cumbria.

“As part of a vibrant, employer led, skills offer, Apprenticeships equip people with the skills employers need to grow, and also provide employers with a unique way to grow their own talent.

“Through initiatives such as the Enterprise Advisor Network and 'Dream Placements', Cumbria is also seeking to give young people access to business mentors for skills development.”

At the launch of the report, which took place in Darlington on Thursday, NPP vice-chair Lord Jim O'Neill said “sorting out” schools in the North should be top of the new education secretary Damian Hinds’ in-tray.

The NNP recommends devolving vocational education spending for 16 to 18 year olds, along with adult education budgets, to areas with metro mayors and those with devolution deals.

It also says Further Education providers, schools and universities should be measured for the “employability and eventual success” of their students at 25 years of age, shifting the emphasis to a longer term measure of success.