Leeds and Partners publicly back plans to end its existence

LEEDS AND PARTNERS has sought to reassure its stakeholders about the future direction of inward investment by publicly supporting the plans to absorb it into the Local Enterprise Partnership.

A statement was issued last night from chairman Andy Clarke and outgoing chief executive Lurene Joseph, in response to Wednesday’s announcement that the organisaion would cease to exist as a standalone entity.

In it, they said it is “right for our organisation to evolve and adapt” as part of the trend towards driving economic growth as a city region.

Mr Clarke, also chief executive of Asda, was one of a team of five that formed the review group which recommended that Leeds and Partners’ inward investment brief be taken on by the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The group also recommended that visitor economy work undertaken by Leeds and Partners should be returned to Leeds City Council.

Abolishing Leeds and Partners is expected to save £950,000, almost all of which comes from eradicating the costs of the corporate functions.

In the statement, Mr Clarke and Ms Joseph said: “Leeds and Partners wholeheartedly support the move to a regional agenda, it is right for investors, right for the region and right for our organisation to evolve and adapt to new economic conditions and governance structures.”

The organisation, which was the result of rebranding and expanding Marketing Leeds in 2012, had increasingly been seen as ineffective after being dogged by problems and controversy, many surrounding Ms Joseph herself.

The shift to a city region-wide approach enables a break with this recent past, and yet another change to the inward investment approach was seen as preferable to reforming Leeds and Partners.

They said: “A regional view is the focus of inward investors who do not see local boundaries, but think in city region terms.

“The combined strength of assets makes the Leeds City Region investment proposition more competitive and more effective.

“Investors are looking for the right talent pool, good access to market, favourable business conditions, outstanding connectivity and a value chain that has genuine impact on the bottom line; all growth strategies that are being developed at a city region level, all clear proof points for aligning the inward investment activity and team of Leeds and Partners more closely towards the regional LEP agenda.”

Leeds City Council’s executive board will meet next Wednesday to discuss the proposals, with the changes expected to be implemented swiftly once they are approved.

Mr Clarke and Ms Joseph added: “We await the decision of the Executive Board but are hopeful that the recommendations will be approved and that we can continue to build on and accelerate the successful approach that has been put in place. In the meantime we are continuing our work with focus and pace, and remain committed to putting Leeds and the wider region on the global map.”