If West Yorkshire is going to flourish in the coming decades, what do we need?

The most important answer is people living here who have the energy and commitment to make positive things happen, in any field.

Why do people choose West Yorkshire? Or not?

Martha Storey and Alex Doyle from Same Skies conducted research on why young people choose to stay in, or return to, our region after graduating.

Their approach has been different to any other current initiative in West Yorkshire on the subject.

This has generated insights about why young people choose West Yorkshire that can't be found anywhere else.

These insights were so compelling that the Yorkshire Evening Post newspaper made the report the subject of a full cover front page, and Martha and Alex were interviewed on BBC Radio Leeds and BCB Radio in Bradford.

The report was launched with an event at the Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds including a response setting the report in a wider regional and national context from Newcastle-based writer Alex Niven, author of New Model Island: How to Build a Radical Culture Beyond the Idea of England published by Repeater Books.

The report makes low-cost and actionable recommendations that could have a big impact. The Mayor of West Yorkshire is best placed to take the lead on behalf of the region, and we have invited Tracy Brabin to a discussion about the way forward.

If you would like a copy of the report please do contact Andrew Wilson.

Photos of the launch taken by Rochyne Delaney McNulty are below.