BLACK COUNTRYLOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP (LEP)

Tim Johnson (Walsall MBC)

Tim Hair (Black County LEP Board Member)

LEPs - Opportunity & Challenge Presentation Outline

• Context for Local Enterprise Partnerships

• The Story so far and progress to date

• The Private Sector perspective on making the LEP a success

LEPs - Opportunity & Challenge The Context for LEP’s

• New model required to drive economic recovery and growth - Abolition of RDA’s

• Genuinely private sector led

• Basis of a new relationship with Government

• Focus on delivery – making things happen

• Removing ‘constraints’ to Growth

• Integrated and smarter use of resources

The Process so far…………….

• Black Country Submission – Sept 2010• Government approval- Dec 2010• LEP Board gained ministerial approval - Jan

2011 (One of first 2)• LEP Board meeting monthly• LEP Alliances beginning to emerge

Private Sector

• Stewart Towe CBE (Chairman)

• John McDonough

• Tim Hair

• Peter Mathews CMG

• Jason Wouhra

Educationalist/Skills• Prof Ian Oakes

Local Authority Leaders• Cllr Mike Bird• Cllr Darren Cooper • Cllr Roger Lawrence• Cllr Anne Millward

The BC LEP Board

Initial Priorities for the BC LEPeach with a LEP Board Champion

1. Access to Finance & Investment2. Business Advice & Support3. International Trade4. Education, Employability & Skills

5. Planning

6. TransportImproving the perception of the Black Country

Some of the Challenges ahead – the public sector perspective

• Continuing challenging Economic conditions – but some grounds for optimism

• The ‘Public Sector’ aligning itself to support private sector led recovery & growth

• Black Country positive and punching its weight

• Businesses genuienly engaged and leading

Making the BC LEP a success…The Private Sector perspective

Tim Hair Chief Executive, Chamberlin plc

BC LEP Board Member