Transport and jobs named top priorities for Black Country LEP
BLACK Country business leaders have outlined development plans for the area’s Local Enterprise Partnership.
Mike Dell, president of Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Business Support leader at the LEP, said one of the main priorities was to establish a Black Country Strategic Transport Group with the aim of improving access to the area.
“It is a well known fact that you can get to the Black Country but you cannot get through it,” he said.
Plans include improvements to the M5/M6 junctions, the Stourbridge to Walsall Freight Line, better access to the Birmingham Airport and an active management of the area’s road network.
With Enterprise Zone status conferred on the area and the new £355m Jaguar Land Rover engine plant in the pipeline, the area’s transport infrastructure has to be sufficient to attract new business.
Other steps include working with employers, colleges and other organisations on an Education and Skills taskforce to create better employment opportunities. This will encompass plans to extend apprenticeship programmes.
Mr Dell said work was also in hand to create a Black Country International Trade Plan, focusing on boosting exports.
Additional steps include a series of gateway improvements and better signage, promotion of the area’s tourism industry and the development of an ambassador programme with the first wave being trialled within the visitor economy sector.
“The next steps are to roll out a successful Business Park Model, engage additional national funding regimes and review the operational plan and priorities,” added Mr Dell.
There will be a focus on funding opportunities such as that offered by the Black Country Reinvestment Society’s Small Business Loans scheme. To coordinate this, the LEP is establishing an Access to Finance working group which will assess current credit conditions and the provision of capital, both working and investment.
The purpose of the group is to provide a comprehensive picture of what financial products are available in the Black Country and to inform companies what they can realistically access.
