After RDAs: Supporting enterprise, driving growth

Date: 09/07/2010

Keynote:  
Adrian Bailey MP, BIS Select Committee Chair
with expert panel including:

• Jerry Blackett, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce
• Michael Izza, ICAEW
• Dermot Finch, Centre for Cities

11.30am - 1.30pm
City Inn, 1 Brunswick Sq, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HW (Link to map)

We were in Birmingham on Friday for a joint event with the ICAEW, discussing the transition from RDAs to LEPs and how it will affect business support. Adrian Bailey MP, newly-elected BIS Select Committee Chair, was our keynote speaker. Adrian highlighted the contribution of  RDAs to the economic growth of the regions, but also recognised that businesses had mixed views on their performance.  He reflected upon the new challenges for local authorities looking to form LEPs, including their capacity to deliver and competing tensions between councils, and committed to engage closely with BIS on this transition.  

The ICAEW launched a key piece of research at the event - Next Steps for Business Support – Lessons learned from the Past and Ideas for the Future - and Michael Izza, their Chief Executive, highlighted three effective business support  interventions as good practice examples: free accountancy support for start-ups, West Midlands Regional Finance Forum and the East Midlands Biocity.  He also underlined the need for LEPs to cover real 'market areas' – and have a business chair.

Jerry Blackett (Chief Executive of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce) emphasised the need for LEPs to focus on jobs and growth and highlighted the risk that LEP proposals focus too much on governance and not enough on how to support private sector growth.  He also stressed that,  with access to public funding more restricted, LEPs will need to find ways to lever in more private funding.

The Q & A session that followed focused on the transition from RDAs to LEPs. Questions included:

What powers should LEPs have and who will sit on LEP boards?
What can LEPs do to promote new business start-ups?
Will LEPs have a role to play in bidding for European funding?
How can we preserve the positive legacy of RDAs?
What role will LEPs play in city inward investment and science and innovation?

Centre for Cities has always argued that economic priorities should be set across real economic areas - and we recognise that LEPs have the potential to deliver this. LEPs shouldn't just be viewed as a funding vehicle, but as an opportunity to coordinate better delivery of skills, housing and transport beyond single local authority boundaries. Read Centre for Cities' 6-step plan for LEPs.