Decision time
We’ve talked before on this blog about the future of the regional development agencies, but I think the subject is worth revisiting – if nothing else, then to examine the case of the East Midlands Development Agency (Emda).
Emda bosses are becoming increasingly nervy about their future. And why wouldn’t they? After all, most other RDAs seem to know where they stand now, and Advantage West Midlands seems it will survive in some form or other because of the dire need to create jobs in and around the Birmingham area. But so far we’ve had no news about Emda at all.
In the local press this week Bryan Jackson, the Emda chairman, said that the government risked “ruining the East Midlands” if his organisation was axed. Emotive words, for sure, and maybe a little over the top. But there is a grain on truth in there, and you can understand the frustration of working with the axe swinging over your head and complete silence from those who hold your future in their hands.
Perhaps fearing the worst, Emda commissioned some (no doubt costly) research last year that showed that for every £1 spent on the RDA, it created £9 for the East Midlands economy. Furthermore, it works out that Emda is one of the cheapest RDAs in the country to run.
Perhaps trying to stay ahead of the game, Emda has already committed to slashing £24m from its already depleted budget next year. It says schemes that it committed money to that haven’t started will be shelved. And all the while, the government remains quite.
So, I think it’s about time Emda found out one way or another where its future lies, because it’s only the big names like Bryan Jackson and chief executive Jeff Moore who are going to be affected by this, it’s the rest of the staff and those companies who make up the Emda supplier chain; from the stationery suppliers to the window cleaners – all of them businesses in their own right.
I was in Emda’s offices last week, and the atmosphere was doom-laden, it has to be said. And this was on the back of the news that the RDA had just announced that Chinese car maker Changan was bringing 200 jobs to Nottingham. Staff morale must be cut to shreds and with this in mind, the sooner the government makes up its mind about Emda – the better for all concerned.
Any comments? Sam Metcalf, deputy editor, Midlands Business Insider.
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