LEP chair outlines working strategy
The new chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP board has told Insider that he is looking forward to taking on the role in the New Year, and creating a public-private strategy for the partnership to work towards. Denys Shortt, who will be introduced into the role on 17 January, said that the new board will look to develop ‘sub sections’ of management for divisions such as transport and the automotive industry.
Shortt is the founder of distribution service DCS, which recently announced it had hit the £1bn sales mark.
Shortt said that he wanted to put himself forward for the role after directing one of the region’s largest companies for the past 16 years.
“I’ve had the chance to see what the private sector can and cannot influence,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for local businesses to get involved and have their say on how the region is affected by many different issues. It’s brand new territory for everyone.”
Along with the five other public sector representatives, Shortt will be joined by leaders from the region’s two universities, Coventry and Warwick.
Shortt said that along with the board members, the partnership aimed to created separate sub sections with representatives taking charge of areas such as transport and the automotive sector.
“Apart from the board members, we have had about 30 business leaders from across the region who have stepped up to get involved with the partnership. Obviously the big businesses equal big job opportunities, but it’s just as important for the local small businesses to get on board with the LEP.”
He said his main objective as chairman of the board would be to get the public and private sectors to work together.
“The board will be split 50/50 between the public and private sector. We need to create a strategy that we can all work towards,” he said. “But rather than looking to implement policies months or years down the line, we’ll be working within a 90-day timeframe.
“The goal is to boost the economy as much as we can – that means working on the issues which really affect the region, such as skills, transport and jobs.”
Shortt added that the board planned to work closely with the West Midlands’ other LEPs, and said that meetings between the partnerships “have already been arranged”.
