April update: regional growth and recovery

We’re committed to ensuring your voice is heard in your region, and that real, practical change can be driven to boost productivity and prosperity. To do this, the CBI sits on business groups across Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) who are working on the longer-term economic recovery. 

In this monthly update, you’ll find insights from these MCAs and LEPs, with a specific focus on how to kick start demand and unleash competitiveness on people and skills for growth and how to build back better for a more sustainable future. Discover a region-by-region breakdown of the latest developments and understand how you can get involved.   

Latest headlines 

• Liverpool City Region’s Good Business Festival is to take part in the science-led COVID-19 pilot programme that will help the UK re-open by the summer. The government said it will work with organisers to get spectators for test events at a nightclub, comedy club and business events venue in the city.  
• In advance of the elections on 6 May 2021, regional and local governments have entered a period of purdah which means that government must remain politically neutral, and avoid making significant, new announcements relating to the use of public money.  
• Applications are now open for towns and cities across the UK to bid for the UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF), launched in the last budget this acts as the precursor to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is set to replace EU funding.  The UK government has provided a list of ‘priority places’ across the country who are encouraged to bid for the UKCRF.  

Kickstarting demand and competitiveness  

• Work is set to begin on the first phase of Birmingham Health Innovation Campus and Precision Health Technologies Accelerator this Summer after planning permission was granted by Birmingham City Council. 

• The Bank of England has announced plans for a northern hub, to be located in Leeds as part of plans to increase staff presence across the UK. This follows from announcements for the new UK Infrastructure Bank to be in the region. 

Building vibrant labour markets  

• The new Marches LEP Careers Hub is being launched this month made up of 67 local schools and colleges working together with local employers, universities and training providers. 

• West of England CA is working with partners across the region to deliver Workforce for the Future. This free-of-charge programme helps businesses identify the skills that they need both now and in the future and create bespoke development plans; it also provides access to training, resources and funding to develop their employees.  

Creating well connected, accessible places  

• Construction work has begun on a rapid bus route on the A34 in north Birmingham, part of the wider Sprint Bus Route linking the A34 with A45 to create a continuous route from Walsall to Solihull, Birmingham Airport and Birmingham City Centre.  
• The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Ltd. (LLEP) is the first LEP in the country to achieve a bronze level Carbon Literacy Award from The Carbon Literacy Project. The LLEP employees undertook a comprehensive training course on carbon reduction and the climate emergency.  

Regional insights 

• North West: Greater Manchester will become the first place outside of London to bring buses back into public control since the 1980s after historic reforms were signed off by Mayor Andy Burnham.  

• North East: The North East LEP has appointed a new chair of its board. Lucy Winskell replaces Andrew Hodgson, who has held the role for the last four years. Lucy Winskell is pro-vice-chancellor (employability and partnerships) at Northumbria University.
• Yorkshire and Humber: The newly created Hull and East Yorkshire LEP has appointed a new chair – James Newman OBE, who helped found the Sheffield City Region LEP and its subsequent devolution deal. This new LEP has been created in response to the 2019 LEP review which called for the removal of any overlapping boundaries. The previous LEP included an overlap with North Lincolnshire.  
• West Midlands: Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP Local Growth Fund programme has committed all its funds. The £207.9m fund has supported 100 projects, unlocked £0.5m match funding, built 1,592 homes, and assisted 3,444 learners creating 13,000 jobs.  
• East Midlands: Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) has invested over £100m with an additional £90m in private sector leverage into the Midlands. 481 investments in 350 SMEs creating 809 jobs.  
• South West: The West of England Combined Authority is launching a new business support programme for businesses and individuals working in the creative industries as part of its Regional Recovery Plan. The grant fund will support creative projects that employ freelance creatives, engage local communities and advance diversity and inclusion.
• South East: Solent LEP has just published their Skills Action Plan and Local Skills Report. The report revealed a digital divide in the Solent, actions cover short, medium and long term and include those related to climate change adaptation.  
• East of England: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combed Authority Growth Works fund has awarded over £2,000,000 to 32 businesses across the region. The grant funding is forecast to create 321 new jobs while stimulating £11.184 million in capital expenditure. 

How you can get involved 

The CBI is developing three-point regional actions plans for England based upon the three key themes from Reviving Regions: 

• Build vibrant local labour markets 

• Transform local infrastructure to facilitate new ways of working 
• Inspire world-class, innovative businesses to invest in all regions 

These will shape our regional policy for the months ahead. If you would like more information, or to get involved please contact: 

• Hannah Richmond – North 
• Helena Coe – South East and East of England 

• Nicky Williams – South West 
• Matthew Lowe – Midlands