The national discussion on the UK's recovery and who exactly is responsible for our apparent economic resurgence is likely grow loud and raucous in the run up to the 2015 election.  Putting party politics asides, we need to remember what's at stake – backing the wrong type of economic growth promotion will cost us jobs, businesses and vital training opportunities for our young people.

One persistent mistake many national politicians from all parties make is to forget the vital contributions of county areas in driving economic growth.   At a time when County economies account for over £600bn of GVA and over half of England's GVA growth outside of London, you might wonder why this would be.