Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership The story so far ….. Craig Jordan Development Executive (Policy & Implementation) Lichfield District Council

Background to LEP’s. Origins of the Birmingham and Solihull LEP. Lichfield District and LEP’s. Where are we presently?

LEP’s Abolishment of Regional Development Agencies. Localism agenda. Economic growth and prosperity driven fostered by local communities. Local Enterprise Partnerships – public, private and voluntary sector partnership. Government in June invited bids: –Based around ‘functioning economic geographies’. –Emphasis upon collaboration. –Scope for growth and development in jobs and wealth.

LEP’s Cont’d September deadline for submissions – 62 ultimately put forward. 24 subsequently approved including a Birmingham LEP, a LEP covering Stoke & Staffordshire; and, Coventry and Warwickshire. More recently LEP status afforded to the Black Country and Worcestershire. White Paper – ‘Local Growth: realising every place’s potential’ published October 2010 – role of LEP’s. –Provide clear vision. –Strategic leadership. –Sustainable private sector led growth. –Framework for coordinated decision making across essential work areas e.g. transport, housing, planning etc.

Possible Roles: Working with Government to set out key investment priorities, including transport infrastructure and supporting or coordinating project delivery; Coordinating proposals or bidding directly for the Regional Growth Fund; Supporting high growth businesses, for example through involvement in bringing together and supporting consortia to run new growth hubs. Making representation on the development of national planning policy and ensuring business is involved in the development and consideration of strategic planning applications;

Possible Roles: Cont’d Lead changes in how businesses are regulated locally; Strategic housing delivery, including pooling and aligning funding streams to support this; Working with local employers, Jobcentre Plus and learning providers to help local workless people into jobs; Coordinating approaches to leveraging funding from the private sector; Exploring opportunities for developing financial and non-financial incentives on renewable energy projects and Green Deal; and Becoming involved in delivery of other national priorities such as digital infrastructure.

Greater Birmingham LEP Recognition early stage: –Functioning economic geographies. –How business and the local economy works. Already strong and positive collaborative working between public and private sectors. Opportunity to look across traditional (administrative) boundaries and forge new relationships. Major player – Birmingham Chamber of Commerce who led on the LEP preparation and its submission. Birmingham, Solihull, Lichfield, Tamworth and East Staffordshire. Cannock. More recently Bromsgrove and Wyre Forest (the latter to be confirmed).

Vision “ Our vision is to create and support a globally competitive knowledge economy, the natural home for Europe’s entrepreneurs and wealth creators. Reflecting our tradition for attracting innovators, risk takers, entrepreneurs and mavericks, within 10 years the economic area will be renowned for being the easiest place in Europe in which to set up and run a business.”

Key Aims: Increase economic output – up 30% by Create 100,000 private sector jobs by Stimulate indigenous growth. Achieve global leadership in key sectors e.g. ICT, creative industries, automotive assembly, low carbon R&D, transport and building technologies.

Lichfield District Lies in southern Staffordshire. Strong spatial and functional links with the West Midlands Conurbation and fellow southern Staffordshire authority areas. Desire to build upon these relationships and enhance the economic prospects of Lichfield District. Retain links with the rest of Staffordshire however and therefore in the Stoke and Staffordshire LEP too.

Where are we? Established a ‘shadow’ Development Board – overseeing the LEP. Led by Bridget Blow. 6 Private Sector reps, 7 public sector and 1 university rep. Begun work on an Economic Strategy. Identifying priorities. Considering Inter-LEP issues e.g. Transport, tourism, inward investment. Regional Growth Fund – round 1 and subsequent rounds 2 and 3.