Bidding for a bright future

by David Skentelbery
A TOP business leader travelled to Whitehall in a bid to ensure a bright future for Warrington and the rest of Cheshire – “the jewel in the economy of the North West.”
Robert Davis, chairman of the Cheshire and Warrington Enterprise Commission, delivered the sub-region’s unique prospectus – “Cheshire Means Business” – for a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Local Enterprise Partnerships – strategic economic partnerships between private, public and voluntary sectors – are the Government’s suggested replacement for Regional Development Agencies.
Mr Davis said: “We believe we have the best case for an LEP that it is possible to make – a case based on having the strongest economy in the North of England, with significant potential to grow and boost local and national economic recovery.
“Cheshire and Warrington already boasts a first-class strategic location and a track-record of partnership working going back over eight years. He added: “Our prospectus is backed by all of the key business representatives in the sub-region and commands the full support of our local authority partners.”
Mr Davis handed over the 20-page prospectus, drawn up after full consultation with all stakeholders, to the duty Minister at the Department of Communities and Local Government.
The bold objective of the document is to make Cheshire and Warrington “quite simply the best place to do business in the UK.”
It pledges to provide the ideal environment for businesses to grow; access to the right skills; supportive and efficient public services; effective infrastructure and utilities – in a beautiful part of the country for people to enjoy.
Warrington council leader Ian Marks, who, along with other sub-regional council and business leaders, gave Mr Davis a send-off when he left for London, said: “Cheshire and Warrington’s economic performance already outstrips every other North West sub-region by a significant margin, also making a significant contribution to the success of the wider city regions on Manchester and Liverpool.”
Growth targets envisaged in the LEP submission include:
*Over 20,000 new jobs created with a key focus on manufacturing and exports.
*A rise in population of around 100,000 involving the need for 70,000 new homes.
*A £10b-plus increase in GVA (a measure of economic output) to around £30b through acceleration growth of new businesses and start-ups.
Cheshire and Warrington are hoping to hear the outcome of their bid by the end of next month. If successful, a partnership would be established in shadow form from February next year and operational from March.
Pictured: Robert Davis is given a send off from the railway station by other leaders. Left-right: John Dunning, Chambers of Commerce, Aidan Manley, managing director Cheshire and Warrington Enterprise Commission, Coun Wesley Fitzgerald, leader of Cheshire East Council, Robert Davis, chairman, Enterprise Commission, Coun Mike Jones, leader of Cheshire West Council, Coun Ian Marks, leader Warrington Borough Council and Neville Chamberlain, chairman, Cheshire Business Leaders.