PROPOSALS to develop a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) based around Birmingham and Solihull have been backed by leading figures in both business and politics, as the deadline for formal submissions to Government moves closer.
Under proposals being developed by Birmingham City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and local business, a LEP would be established with key objectives to increase economic output and business profitability and therefore create jobs.
The Partnership is evolving a vision of a globally competitive knowledge economy, which is considered the natural home for Europe’s entrepreneurs and wealth creators.
The ambition is that the economic area of Birmingham and Solihull will become the location of choice for entrepreneurs looking to set up and run a business.
More than 70 businesses attended a second workshop staged by the Birmingham Chamber Group earlier this month to provide feedback on the plans, while Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s Cabinet formally approved the decision to form a LEP with Birmingham last week.
Commenting on the latest consultation, Katie Teasdale, policy adviser for Birmingham Chamber of Commerce said: “It is clear the business community recognises their LEP needs to be different – from what has gone before and from other economic areas. They want the Partnership to make a clear case for how the local economy can grow even stronger if business and local authorities are given the necessary freedoms and resources. Finding better ways to exploit our assets, particularly people, must be at the heart of our LEP.”
The Birmingham Chamber Group is working alongside other business representative groups and Business Voice West Midlands to co-ordinate business input. The partnership has been supported by Staffordshire chambers in Lichfield, Tamworth and Burton, together with East Stafford Borough Council.
The Birmingham chamber has already said there is overwhelming support in favour of the joint LEP, which has been prompted by the Government’s decision to axe the network of regional development agencies, including Advantage West Midlands.
Council and business leaders are drawing up a detailed list of actions for the LEP’s first few months. Alongside maintaining early infrastructure developments including the extension to the airport runway; advancing plans for High Speed rail and regeneration plans for Longbridge and North Solihull; proposals include encouraging more interest in enterprise in schools and a ‘virtual boardroom’ to increase business mentoring.
As well as seeking the transfer of some AWM assets with associated funding and bidding for resources from the Regional Growth Fund, a key aspect of the LEP’s financial strategy will be to retain business related revenues for local investment.
The LEP for Birmingham and Solihull will be a formal, legal entity with clear economic development objectives for the economic area. The LEP will have equal numbers of business and council leaders, with a significant business leader as chair.
Outline plans for LEPs need to be submitted to Government on or before September 6.
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