Stephen Fox 19 April 2011

West Midlands UK

REGIONAL STRATEGIESWest Midlands Regional Concordat Regional Sustainable Development Framework Regional Spatial Strategy Regional Economic Strategy Regional Housing Strategy West Midlands Energy Strategy Regional Transport Delivery Plan West Midlands Regional Waste Planning Strategy West Midlands European Strategy West Midlands Visitor Economy Strategy West Midlands Regional Forestry Framework

European StrategyEngaging with the Single Market

Engaging with Europe's Research and Innovation Agenda

Tackling Climate Change and Ensuring Environmental Protection

The Social Cohesion Dimension

NEW COALITION GOVERNMENTNew strategy for regions in England

30 new LEPS for ENGLANDLocal Enterprise Partnerships -6 in West MidlandsBirmingham and SolihullBlack CountryCoventry and WarwickshireStoke and StaffordshireThe MarchesWorcestershire

BUT 33 Local Authorities

NEW LEP AREAS

• Labour inter dependencies• Economic opportunities • Market opportunities • Inward investment birthplace of the industrial revolution and is a ‘locator’ in terms of inward investment. We can exploit this as a link to other international opportunities and develop clusters e.g. high tech. engineering or health• Corridors of growth main transport corridors given our location in England. 17 million lives within one hour drive•Regional facilities : major facilities such as the NEC and Birmingham Airport attract major conference and exhibitions •EU Funding•Responding to “financial crisis”•Jobs losses in public sector

A framework for a regional strategy in 2011+Support enterprise and SMESDevelop skills and more apprenticeshipClimate change and renewable energy Improve transport linksHealthier population ( deal with demographics) Social cohesionIncrease innovation and researchSustainabilityDevelop clusters and smart specialisation

Do regions need a strategy?What happens when the unexpected

happens?FlexibiltyAble to respond to opportunities when they

ariseIs networking an effective alternative to a

strategy

To do what is necessary

To do what is necessary, when required