Insider Media Limited

The Midlands chairman of accountancy giant KPMG has called for more of the West Midlands' ‘big businesses’ to collaborate with the Greater Birmingham LEP. Speaking to Insider, Steve Hollis said that the involvement of large companies from the LEP structure was “missing”. Hollis also said that he hoped 2011 would be the year that the Birmingham arm of KPMG would “start to lift some of big projects out of London”.

Hollis said that the Greater Birmingham LEP was “in danger of becoming a talking shop” without the support of some of the region’s bigger companies.

He said: “It’s the big names, the big manufacturers, retailers and businesses which encourage growth and create job opportunities. We have the potential to have a very strong organisation – but we need to see more support from these companies before it becomes a force to be reckoned with.

“The LEP structure is definitely lacking clarity – we need to be sure what they will do, and where the resources will come from. The LEPs need real support, from both local and central government.”

Hollis also outlined his ambitions for KPMG over the coming months.

He said: “We really want to see the Midlands’ professional services division get stronger over the year. I’d also like this to be the year that the West Midlands starts to lift some of the big projects out of London, which I think is definitely attainable this year.”

However, Hollis admitted that the year ahead would be a “tough” one.

“The next year will be very different for both the corporate and individual finance markets. The corporate world is in a pretty good shape. But individuals will suffer more due to the VAT rise and public sector cuts.

“But I think the Midlands is better equipped than many regions to deal with the issues that 2011 will bring forward. We’re very resourceful, and I think there’s a definite recognition now that job creation is very important in the private sector. It’s got to be strong enough to take the weight off the public sector, inevitably.”