Structural Repairs founder Roger Line says innovation, skills and manufacturing must be at the heart of the North’s economic future
An award-winning Doncaster entrepreneur and one of the UK’s leading concrete experts has called for renewed focus on innovation, skills and advanced manufacturing if the Northern Powerhouse is to fulfil its economic potential.
Roger Line, founder and managing director of Doncaster-based Structural Repairs, is sharing his views on the future of the Northern Powerhouse following his company’s recent success at the National Entrepreneur Awards 2026, where Structural Repairs was named Best Large Business.
Line, who has built Structural Repairs into a specialist engineering company working across the UK and Europe, believes the North needs more than promises of investment if it is to close the long-standing economic gap with London and the South East.
“The Northern Powerhouse should be about giving the North the confidence, investment and infrastructure to fulfil its economic potential. It should not simply be about attracting more investment into the North, but about creating the conditions in which Northern businesses can innovate, grow and create skilled, well-paid jobs.”
Structural Repairs helps asset owners, facility managers and engineering teams extend the life of concrete buildings and critical infrastructure. The business has developed a number of innovations, including a patented RAAC repair system using Regrid carbon reinforcement, approved by Network Rail, technology for encapsulating failing reinforcement and restoring strength to deteriorated concrete, and advanced scanning and testing through its UKAS-accredited laboratory.
The company is also developing EV-ready reinforcement solutions for car parks and large-scale infrastructure.
For Line, investment in the North needs to extend beyond new projects and focus on making better use of the infrastructure already in place.
“Repairing existing infrastructure can often be more sustainable and cost-effective than replacing it, while also reducing waste and making scarce investment go further.”
He also believes the North must become better at turning innovation into commercially successful manufacturing businesses.
“We should be creating an environment where a business can develop an idea, test it, manufacture it and scale it here. That creates skilled jobs and builds long-term economic resilience.”
Line points to Structural Repairs’ own investment in a manufacturing and testing facility in Doncaster as an example of how the Northern Powerhouse agenda can translate into practical business investment.
While he recognises the progress made through devolution, combined authorities and metro mayors, he says greater regional collaboration and decision-making powers are still needed.
“The test now is whether the Northern Powerhouse becomes more than a political slogan. The region needs long-term investment and consistent policies that allow businesses and local leaders to plan with confidence.”
He believes collaboration between Northern towns and cities is equally important, arguing that places should build on their individual strengths rather than compete for the same investment.
“The North has the universities, businesses, engineers and industrial heritage to be a world-class centre for innovation and advanced manufacturing. The priority should be connecting those strengths much more effectively.”
