Midlands Engine: What’s Your View On How It Should Work?

THE Midlands is set to undergo a fundamental change in its political and economic structure over the next few years and how the full picture will eventually look is still open to interpretation.

The Government has made it clear that its intention is to establish the Midlands Engine as the UK’s manufacturing powerhouse, tapping into the capabilities of industrial giants like Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, JCB and Toyota.

(Take part in our survey here)

The region is a £222bn economy – which matches that of several countries in Europe – therefore the opportunities for growth and inward investment are enormous. Together there are 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships (six in the West Midlands and five in the East Midlands) collaborating on boosting productivity and attracting investment in order for the plan to succeed.

The political will to drive the engine forward is also there and will be steered in the West Midlands by a new combined authority comprising seven local authorities (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton) and three LEPs (Black Country, Coventry and Warwickshire and Greater Birmingham & Solihull).

Crucially, responsibility for the authority will rest with a new publicly-elected metropolitan mayor.

Today, TheBusinessDesk.com and EY is launching a new survey which could help to form the agenda for the new era.

We are asking our readers in both the East and West Midlands for your opinions on how the various bodies will collaborate, what the main issues they are likely to face, whether the existing infrastructure is capable to meeting requirements, what impact HS2 will play on the overall plan and who would be your choice for the important role of mayor.

It asks whether enough is being done to develop skills, whether more help should be given to encourage exports and fundamentally, does the region have a robust and balanced economy.

The survey can be completed here

Once complete, we will gather the data and use the insight to highlight the issues you think should be the focus of the new set-up.

We will also be staging a round table discussion where business leaders and sector experts will debate the findings and deliver their verdict on how the new economic structure should look.

The details will then be published on our website later in the summer.