LEP needs quick win, says Blatherwick
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) needs "a quick win under its belt" to gain credibility with the business community, according to a senior lawyer in Nottingham.
Iain Blatherwick, managing partner at Browne Jacobson, told Insider he thinks the LEP needs some momentum to gain respect.
The D2N2 LEP represents Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
"The people who put together the LEP did an excellent job, but it feels now like it needs a quick win to get everyone on board. There is the Regional Growth Funding to go for, and it'd be good to secure some more of that. However, it's difficult for those running the LEP on a voluntary basis as the rules do seem to keep changing," said Blatherwick.
He added that he thought parts of the business community in Nottingham were missing the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA).
"It helped give everyone a focal point, and I certainly didn't regard it as one of the regional development agencies that would be done away with," he said. "Now that the LEP is manned with volunteers, I think it gives everyone a better understanding of the role EMDA played."
Turning to Browne Jacobson, Blatherwick revealed that the firm has taken on 25 new recruits since 1 May.
"We did'’t lay people off when others did a couple of years ago," he said. "When the recession hit we had our staff focus in on the market, and that’s paid us back in the growth we’re seeing now – we’re seeing the benefits of keeping our people on board."
Across its three offices in Nottingham, Birmingham and London, Browne Jacobson employs 560 staff.
Next year, the firm will move into 60,000 sq ft of space at Mowbray House in Nottingham, almost two years after HM Revenue and Customs vacated the space.
Blatherwick said Browne Jacobson would not join the growing trend of merging with other law firms "for the sake of turnover".
He added: "However, if we find a fit for our specialisms out there, then of course we’d take a look. But we’d never do it for the sake of it. Our main challenge is take work out of London, and stop regional work going down there – that’s what we’re concentrating on."
