West Mids needs special treatment, says IoD
The West Midlands economy is in such a poor state that it should be treated as a special case by the government, John Rider, regional chairman of the Institute of Directors (IoD), has insisted. He said the region needs to “catch up with competitors in the north”.
He warned there was no confidence that local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) would work properly without some cross region umbrella body capable of playing a coordinating role.
Rider said it was vital that a “well thought-through approach” emerged, capable of making a long-term difference.
His comments follow the posting of LEP proposals, with a total of 56 submitted nationally.
There is a proposed Black Country partnership, while Coventry and Warwickshire authorities have submitted a joint bid. Birmingham and Solihull have joined forces with East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth.
Shropshire and Herefordshire opted to bid for The Marches partnership, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire submitted a proposal and Worcestershire has made a bid.
Mr Rider said: “Our ‘competitors’ in the north – that’s what they are in the race for inward investment and economic success – the North-east and Manchester, for instance, have long recognised the benefits of genuinely working together. Arguably, our region must play ‘catch-up’ and quickly.
“This region is a special case and must be treated as such. The only region to suffer a loss of private sector jobs in the recent ‘good times’ – minus 60,000 in ten years – deserves a structured, well thought-through approach that will make a long-term difference.
“Business confidence is very fragile and the private sector has been challenged to create the much needed jobs to replace the 80,000 or so public sector posts predicted to go soon in this region.”
