Business voices must be heard in the area’s Devolution deal negotiations and the ‘Midlands Engine’ initiative, says the Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership in an economic summit report just published.
David Ralph, D2N2 LEP Chief Executive, was among senior business and political figures taking part in panel discussions before a business audience, at the Nottingham Economic Forum held earlier this month (February). He is pictured far left.
A full report on the topics discussed appears in the March issue of Midlands Business Insider magazine, which has just been published. The magazine organised the Forum event, which debated topics around the current proposed North Midlands Devolution deal (for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire) and the Midlands Engine, aiming to get the region’s authorities and organisations working more closely together.
On engaging businesses in supporting the North Midlands Devolution deal – currently being negotiated for with Government by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire’s 19 local authorities, business leaders, D2N2 and the East Midlands Chamber – Mr Ralph is quoted as saying he wants companies to speak up for what they want from the Deal.
He added: “This is about growing the economy, which will mean more people are employed and public services will be improved. It’s really important that businesses gets behind Devolution.”
On the Midlands Engine – launched by Business Secretary Sajid Javid in Birmingham in December 2015, with the promise of creating 300,000 jobs and £34billion worth of growth by 2030 – Mr Ralph says: “The Midlands Engine will deliver direct benefits by bringing a diverse range of skills and knowhow together. It’s essential for the Midlands and the economic growth of places like Nottingham. If we don’t see it in the Chancellor’s next Budget then we need businesses to ask MPs ‘why aren’t we getting it’ ?”
Joining him on the Nottingham Economic Forum panels were Simon Gray, Chief Executive of Nottingham Means Business; Nick McDonald, Nottingham City Council Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport; John Proctor, Director at FHP Property Consultants; Mark Sanders, Chief Executive of Accelerate Nottingham; Dr Glenn Crocker, Chief Executive of BioCity Nottingham; Ian Curryer, Chief Executive of Nottingham City Council; and Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham.
Midlands Business Insider magazine reaches around 41,000 business leaders a month. For more details on what’s in the latest issue see the web link HERE.
To learn more about the North Midlands Devolution deal see its official website at www.northmidlands.org.uk
Media wanting further information about the work of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership can contact D2N2 Communications Manager Sean Kirby on 0115 9578749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
