D2N2 board member and Chair of its Innovation Board, Paul Harris, spoke at an East Midlands Economic Forum today (July 3) on far-reaching economic and infrastructure changes happening in the East Midlands.
The breakfast event this morning at the Jurys Inn Hotel, East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, was organised by business news and events media company Insider Media.
Senior business people, local authority representatives, skills providers and other delegates discussed key issues for the East Midlands, including:
- Business investments taking place in expansion, relocation of new commercial sites, transport links, and digital connectivity.
- The broader developments supporting these, to make the East Midlands a huge and exciting place to do business; such as local connectivity, skills development, housing, retail and marketing initiatives.
Development Corporation for the East Midlands
Among the topics discussed was the recently formed Development Corporation for the East Midlands.
In October 2018 Government announced £2million funding for a Midlands Engine Development Corporation, promoting the economic development of three large areas in the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership area. The areas are in and around the Toton site of the planned East Midlands Hub to serve the proposed HS2 Phase 2b line and the nearby Chetwynd Barracks, the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station site and East Midlands Airport.
The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership is closely involved with the Development Corporation; with D2N2 Chair Elizabeth Fagan on its Oversight Board, and LEP Deputy Chair David Williams and Chief Executive Sajeeda Rose sitting on its Executive Group.
D2N2 LEP is the private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary services representatives which promotes economic growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Paul Harris, Chair of D2N2 Innovation Board, spoke at today’s Insider Media event as a discussion panel member, answering audience questions.
He said afterwards: “It was great to see the enthusiasm of business people for the development of the region. As we shape our Local Industrial Strategy, receiving real ‘on the ground’ input from real businesses is very helpful.”
Local Industrial Strategy
The D2N2 LEP is currently gathering evidence for and developing a Local Industrial Strategy (LIS) for its area; to complement ambitions in its recently released Vision 2030 Strategic Economic Plan, and to boost productivity and economic growth in the region. A public consultation document and evidence base will be published shortly.
Other speakers at the event and discussion were:
- Ken Harrison, Programme Director for HS2, Nottinghamshire County Council
- Christopher Hayton, Director of Corporate Affairs, East Midlands Airport
- Maria Machancoses, Director, Midlands Connect
- Tim Allen, Director of Land Development – Midlands, Peter Brett Associates LLP
- Stephen Rush, Sales Director, William Davis
- Gary Lees, Executive Director, Pegasus Group
- Lorna Pimlott, Phase 2 Sponsorship Director, HS2
- Councillor Sam Webster – Portfolio Holder for Finance, Growth and the City Centre – Nottingham City Council
- David Reid, Operations Manager, Willmott Dixon.
Media wanting more information about the D2N2 LEP can contact Sean Kirby, D2N2 Communications Manager, on 0115 9578749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
