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The chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP has told Insider that the fact he is based in London could hugely benefit the region. Andy Street, the managing director of John Lewis, said that the need to be connected with the capital and central government would be eased and the region would not be “inward looking” as a more localised organisation might be.

Street was announced as the chair of the LEP board yesterday. The organisation comprises nine local authorities, making it one of the largest in the UK. Birmingham, Solihull, Cannock, East Staffordshire, Tamworth, Lichfield, Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove and Redditch are all involved in the LEP.

The appointment comes after the announcement last month that John Lewis would be creating its first Birmingham store in the city's New Street station development.

Rather than see his London base as a hindrance, Street said it would “categorically not” impact on his ability to do the job.

“I was asked to sign a petition in favour of HS2, despite the fact that a lot of people at John Lewis did not see it as an advantageous venture,” he said. “I’m more than capable of making decisions on behalf of and in the interests of Birmingham, Solihull and the other local councils partnering the LEP.”

Street said that, having been brought up in Birmingham, the city and the LEP was close to his heart.

He said: “Working at John Lewis, with all our partners, I’ve seen how important it is for people to work hard and be ambitious. Unfortunately, too many people in the West Midlands are not getting that opportunity with the unemployment rates as high as they are.

“The LEP shadow board has already set out its ambitions for creating jobs in the region and it outlined plans for 100,000 more private sector jobs across the area. We need a great amount of collaboration between all of the district councils, and the confidence to carry our plans forward.

Although Street would not allude to any preferred location for the region’s recently announced enterprise zone, he said it was a “great economic opportunity” for the Solihull and Greater Birmingham.

“The LEP board will decide on where the enterprise zone will be positioned,” he said. “But obviously, we will take into consideration needs from across the region.”

Street will take up the role of chair on 1 May.

Photograph courtesy of Mark McKenzie