Midlands Engine “leading the way” as region eyes big prizes

Sir John Peace

Some of the most crucial issues facing the Midlands are about its ability to persuade London that the regions – and this region in particular – can deliver.

So it seemed appropriate to meet Midlands Engine chairman Sir John Peace at the Burberry headquarters, where he is the chairman, a stone’s throw away from Parliament.

Although the meeting didn’t nearly happen, with train delays meaning it took three and a half hours to get from Birmingham city centre to the banks of the River Thames.

With the Northern mayors angry about the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s changing priorities – that has seen their projects scaled back while London schemes are speeded up – there remains the clear sense that the regions remain on the slow track.

“There is no doubt at all that the North and the Midlands have not had the levels of investment that has certainly gone into London,” Sir John said.

“That is a fact and you see that manifest itself in many different ways, be it infrastructure, media…those things can’t be right. I get it from the vice-chancellors of our universities about research investment and so on, it can’t be right.”

He highlighted the “legacy problem” that he believes the Government’s industrial strategy can help to address, while in “a post-Brexit world” – a period he spends a lot of time thinking and talking about – he sees it as crucial that the region is better placed to play a more central role.

“To rebalance the economy it’s not just about investing in the Midlands, or investing in the North, it’s about spreading the institutions around the country as well, so that the whole country feels they are not just being governed from one place in the country but we feel part of the overall governance and management of the country.”

Channel 4's London headquarters

Channel 4’s London headquarters

The most high-profile institution currently in his sights is Channel 4, which is being courted by most of the UK even though it remains reluctant to give up its Horseferry Road home, around the corner from where Sir John is sitting.

He said: “Why we have got all of our media concentrated in London is beyond me. I just don’t get that.

“I do think an important part of rebalancing the economy. We should have Channel 4 in the Midlands.”

But he doesn’t think the broadcaster, which is 25 years old in November, is going to easily part from London – nor London from it.

“London is not going to roll over here and say ‘no we think Channel 4 should move’ – be very clear about that,” said Sir John.

“London’s huge – I think London is the best capital city in the world – but you need to rebalance the economy and sometimes things need a nudge because of that. I think in this case it needs a nudge.”

Sir John, who is the son of a Nottinghamshire coal miner, does not believe the region can wait for prizes like Channel 4 or the Commonwealth Games to be gifted, but instead needs to be fought for with a compelling, coherent case.

He is confident that the Midlands – with the Midlands Engine “leading the way” – is working more collaboratively and recognising that individual successes bring benefit to the wider area.

“The Commonwealth Games is a good example of that,” he said. “Unanimously all of the different parts of the Midlands have come together to say ‘we support Birmingham’s bid for the Commonwealth Games’.

“There’s no doubt at all that it would be a great venue. But the very fact that you are able to talk about this having the support of the Midlands and the Midlands putting money into the bid and so on, reflects the collaboration and support and enthusiasm there is for working together in the Midlands.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close