Oliver Coppard confident Doncaster's recent status change will bolster the region financially
South Yorkshire's new Mayor has been reflecting on the recent decision to award Doncaster with 'city' status
South Yorkshire's new Mayor believes the recent changes in Doncaster will lead to 'a growth in positive momentum' across the region.
The area was given city status earlier this month as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Oliver Coppard's been telling us about a meeting he had last week with a number of business leaders in Doncaster:
"I was there championing the bid that we've got going into government for Doncaster to be the home of Great British Railways.
"Those sorts of ambitions are important. They're important for me to get behind, but they're important for the whole of South Yorkshire to get behind.
"When Doncaster does well, the rest of South Yorkshire does well."
Mr. Coppard-who was elected to replace Dan Jarvis as the region's Metro Mayor at the start of May-thinks the status change will encourage more businesses to set up in Doncaster:
"It's fantastic for the region. It's partly about status and outsiders looking at us as a region knowing that we've got two great cities here in South Yorkshire.
"However, it's also about confidence, and it's about knowing that as a region we're developing and growing.
"We have some fantastic assets in Doncaster. It's the home of the Flying Scotsman and the St. Ledger festival, so people will want to come and invest in this area.
"There's no reason at all why people won't want to come and build their careers, businesses and lives in Doncaster.
"I need to make sure that we're shouting about these qualities as much as we can. The city status will help, but there's more to be done yet.
"Doncaster has acted like a city for a long time now, so it's a long overdue award to the city and the region.
"It has a huge ambition for the future, much like the rest of South Yorkshire."