The chairman of Yorkshire Forward has met Bradford's business leaders to find out what they think about the area's regeneration.
Graham Hall, chairman of the region's development agency, was at an event organised by The St Williams Foundation.
The foundation, which is an organisation that brings people together from the area to discuss relevant issues, was set up 19 years ago and covers the whole of the North of England.
Mr Hall said: "What will make the difference for Yorkshire and the Humber is making sure we bring people together.
"We now have an approved and agreed regional strategy which will act as the umbrella for all actions in the area.
"We now need not just to improve the region's economy but also the lives of the individuals who live here.
"But, we will only get this if the region responds to the education and skills needs, this is imperative."
From April 1 Yorkshire Forward has a single budget of £240 million to help regenerate the region.
Linda Phipps, director of The St Williams Foundation, said: "We cannot sustain the low employment rate unless we address the need for education and skills training.
"Mr Hall and his team see this as one of the most important steps that organisations and businesses need to realise."
Other figures who attended the event included Bradford businessman David Scougall, who is director of the British Urban Regeneration Association and Andrew Palmer, business development manager for Bradford-based creative design and marketing company Dulay Seymour.
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