Welcome and Introduction

Derek Ludlow, MBE

Chair, BLEDP Ltd

Delivering Economic Success in Bedfordshire & Luton:Presentation to the 2nd BLEDP Plenary Session

David MarlowChief ExecutiveEast of England Development Agency8 November 2005

The BLEDP sub-region today

• A population approaching 600,000

• Slow relative rates of economic growth

• Low skills base, business start-up and growth rates

• Communities of multiple deprivation

• Strong competition from neighbouring centres

BLEDP in the region

The regional framework for growth & development

Applying the framework in Bedfordshire & Luton

1. Building on our strengths

• International gateway and national transport corridor roles

• HE & FE strengths

• Advanced manufacturing and R&D

• Creative, cultural diversity & quality of life

Applying the framework in Bedfordshire & Luton

2. Maximising distinctive opportunities

• Growth Area Status

• Adjacent to London, Milton Keynes & the centre of O2C Arc

• Tourism investment opportunities

• Transport & aviation – related developments

Applying the framework in Bedfordshire & Luton

3. Addressing Areas of Concern

• Skills participation, attainment & levels of productivity

• Enterprise, business start up & growth

• Economic Inclusion

• Profile & image

Applying the framework in Bedfordshire & Luton

4. Delivering Change Sustainably

• Bedford, Luton & Dunstable Town Centres

• High quality design, balanced and sustainable communities

• Celebrating diversity• Leadership & delivery management

EEDA roles & functions

• Shaping strategic direction

• Persuading / influencing

• Delivery of four core products

Business Support

Enterprise Hubs

Investing in Communities

Regional Renaissance

Business Support in action

Enterprise Hubs in action

Investing in Communities in action

Regional Renaissance

Persuading / influencing: the EEDA/BLEDP Partnership

• Core roles of SREPS

• Outcomes of SREP Summit

– more effective performance management

– interfaces with EEDA core products

– interfaces with LAAs

– responding to Growth Areas agenda

• Outcomes of Growth Areas agenda

Delivering Economic Success

• Strategic Leadership & a strategic approach

• “ It’s the economy ...”

• Partnership and stakeholder management

• Delivery, delivery, delivery …

BLEDP and the Future of the Beds and Luton Economy

Chris Barnes

CEO, BLEDP Ltd

Introduction

• Welcome the proposal

• BLEDP well on way to achieving EEDA’s proposals

• Independent Co limited by guarantee

• Private sector led

• Already adopted SRES (JEDS)

• Task and Finish Groups to turn strategy into activity.

Economic Underperformance

Annual Jobs Growth 1982-2002 (adjusted for pop'n growth)

-1.00%

0.00%

1.00%2.00%

3.00%

4.00%

5.00%

Luto

nB &

LBed

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East o

f E

P'bor

oHer

ts

North

ants

Cambs

Bucks M

KUK

Sectoral Comparison

• A closer comparison of numbers suggests quite strongly that Bedfordshire & Luton’s performance is generally weaker across the board. Thus where a sector is declining in both areas it tends to be declining faster in Bedfordshire & Luton. Where sectors are growing they tend to be growing faster in neighbouring areas. Where growth has been more mixed, the overall performance still tends to be weaker in Bedfordshire & Luton.

Building a Sustainable Economy

• 50,000 new jobs by 2021– Jobs created by private sector (mainly)– New SMEs not yet started 8,000-12,000– New Social Enterprises 250-750– Existing Employers 10,500-14,500– Inward Investment 23,000-29,000

• Double the capacity of the local economy to create jobs

• No change not an option– Business as usual has failed

Partnership Overload

• 35 organisations– 6 government– 3 regional– 8 public authorities– 7 education sector– 6 Private sector– 5 Community & voluntary sector

• 10 Regional Partnerships (and counting)• 33 sub-regional/local Partnerships (& counting)

Partnership Overload 3

• 10 regional partnerships not included

• Sub groups etc. not included

• Resourcing – staff to run and staff to attend

• Transaction costs

• duplication

BLEDP’s Role

• Original intention to be one partnership to prevent a plethora

• Joint Economic Development Strategy

• Task & Finish Groups – turning JEDS into action

• Evidence base > strategic interventions > project activity

Adding Value to EEDA

• Sub regional strategic co-ordination of EEDA investments, especially the co-ordination of the 4 core products within the JEDS/Business Plan

• Linking EEDA/RES objectives to the LAA process and aligning mainsteam funding to RES priorities

• Linking the RES priorities to the Sustainable Communities Plan growth agenda

• Helping EEDA to avoid having to arbitrate between locally competing claims on its funds by having those discussions within the strategic framework provided by the BLEDP and the JEDS

Adding Value to Partners

• One Stop Shop for Strategic intervention

• Strategic conduit for EEDA funding

• Aligning EEDA funding with LAAs

• Framework for collective decisions on priorities

• Independent Performance Assessment pilot for EEDA

• Fighting B&L corner within region

Long Term Vision

• Rationalisation of partnership working

• Improvements to corporate governance

• Encouraging more investment and jobs into Beds and Luton

Issues to be resolved

• Need for adequate resources

• Core funding plus

• Product management funding

Question & Answer Session

Barriers to Inward Investment

Group Members Harry Moore, PULS (UK)

Sally Ann Forsyth, Unilever PLCMatt Peachey, Bedford Borough Council

Gareth Smith, Charter Architects Mark Smith, Barclays Bank PLCAndrew Duncan, BLEDP

Andrew Clarke, Douglas Duff Cheryl Smart, Chamber Business

Barriers to Inward Investment November 8th 2005

• Lack of co-ordinated business support,

• The need for vision, leadership and authority to achieve objectives

• The poor image and need for projection of the area.

Barriers to inward Investment November 8th 2005

• One Agency to Handle Inward Investment

Key Roles

– A “one stop shop”, signposting towards the sources of information and assistance required 0845 number and coordinating web site

– “Account Manager” assigned to each enquiry

– “Help with Red Tape” supporting enquirers in dealing with regulation and red tape

– “Offering” a sophisticated web-based service

– “Lobbying” re. Central and Local Government

Barriers to inward Investment November 8th 2005

Vision, leadership and authority

• EEDA/DEFRA should not encourage separate funding bids from agencies aspiring to conduct inward investment activity in Beds and Luton but rather steer them towards collaborating in a joint bid to underpin the one-agency approach.

• Before more is committed, existing expenditure should be effectively utilised.

• The newly-introduced Local Area Agreements should be made to contribute as they are structured to incentivise Local Authorities to work together with other bodies and agencies to achieve economic development goals.

Barriers to inward Investment November 8th 2005

Image

• One Company Separate Brands

• Quality of life

• Schools

• Workforce

• Shopping Experience

• Accessibility

• Events

Barriers to inward Investment November 8th 2005

Change Barriers to Positives

• Transportation

• Congestion

• Infrastructure

Barriers to inward Investment November 8th 2005

To Break down the Barriers and Succeed

One Organisation must be Accountable

Barriers to inward Investment November 8th 2005

SME Needs

Peter Fraser

Business Link & Chair SME T&F Group

New Business & Social Enterprises Group Membership

• Peter Fraser Chair• Alex Francis BLEDP• Sarah Hughes Bedfordshire County Council• Frances Browning LSC• Steve Pryor Business Link• Gary Jesson E-Financial Management Ltd• Eamonn Keenan/ University of Luton

Karen Wood• Martin Trinder North Beds CVS

New Business & Social Enterprises Priorities

• Development of entrepreneurial culture

• Better coordinated and seamless business support/aftercare/incubation

• Proactive targeting of start-ups

• Use of networks and business champions

• Flexible and appropriate premises

New Business & Social Enterprises Resources

• Improved accessibility

• Shared database and CRM systems

• Business support website

• Account management

• Sector and cluster support

• Small grants

• Premises research/database

Issues For Existing Employers

Lee Allen

AW Transport

BLEDP General Meeting