'Midlands Engine' prospectus launched

A launch event was held last week to officially launch the Midlands Engine prospectus – attended by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Sajid Javid.

The goals of the prospectus are to:

• set the aims for the whole of the Midlands to work more collaboratively
• accelerate economic growth and productivity across the region
• develop the Midlands Engine into a global brand
• set the scale of the region's ambition in response to the Government announcements made earlier this year

Sajid Javid commented: “he Midlands is the heartland of our thriving manufacturing sector and home to 25 universities, playing a strong role in the recovery of the UK economy. Over the last year, private sector employment in the Midlands grew more than three times faster than London and the South East. But there are more opportunities to capitalise on the Midlands’ natural strengths and assets and make it an engine for growth. Through this Prospectus, which sets out the region’s own vision to unlock greater economic growth, it’s time to fire up the Midlands Engine.”

David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership said: “We have a unique opportunity through the Midlands Engine to strengthen the links between business, the public sector and universities. The region’s Local Enterprise Partnerships, including D2N2, will be vital to this; helping to boost productivity and add value  to the UK economy.”

John Forkin, Managing Director at Marketing Derby who attended the launch said: “It's becoming clear that we need to collaborate across the Midlands especially in international markets to have the critical mass of the Northern Powerhouse or London and the South-East. The meeting of all of the East and West Midlands inward investment agencies was the first step towards a Midlands Pavillion at MIPIM 2017.”

You can view the Midlands Engine prospectus online here.