Midlands Engine Executive Board Reports Pack

21 JULY 2021 MIDLANDS ENGINE EXECUTIVE BOARD PAPERS REPORTS PACK JULY 2021 MIDLANDS ENGINE

Agenda April 2021 Draft Minutes - Governance & Delivery Executive Directors Report

2. 3. 1. CONTENTS Midlands Engine Executive Board Agenda 21 July 2021 13.00 – 16.00 Venue: Microsoft Teams

Membership: Sir John Peace (SJP) Chairman, Midlands Engine, Cllr Alan White (AL) Leader, Staffordshire County Council, Prof. Trevor McMillan (TM), Vice Chancellor, Keele University, Cllr David Mellen (DM) Leader, Nottingham City Council, Cllr Simon Geraghty (SG) Leader, Worcestershire County Council, Cllr Martin Hill (MH) Leader, Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Barry Lewis (BL) Leader, Derbyshire Council, Anthony May (AM) Chair, Midlands Engine Operating Board, Prof Kathryn Mitchell (KM) Vice Chancellor, University of Derby, Kevin Harris (KH) Chair, of Leicester & Leicestershire LEP, Cllr Chris Poulter (CP), Leader, Derby City Council, Mark Stansfeld (MS) Chair of Worcestershire LEP, Andy Street (AS) Mayor West Midlands Combined Authority, Cllr Abi Brown (AB) Leader, Stoke‐on‐Trent Council. Marian Sudbury, DIT Director for UK Regions, John Henderson, Chief Executive, Observers: Staffordshire County Council. Andy Street (Alt. Cllr Bob Sleigh, Deputy Mayor WMCA). Cllr David Mellen (DM) Apologies: Leader Nottingham City Council. Rachael Greenwood (RG) Executive Director, Midlands Engine, Maria Machancoses In attendance: (MM) Director, Midlands Connect, Rowena Limb (RL) Area Director, Cities and Local Growth Unit. Prof. Delma Dwight (DD) Midlands Engine Observatory, Lee Marsham (LM) Guests: Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, Peter Ware (PW) Partner Browne Jacobson LLP. Chairman: Sir John Peace

Item Timing Topic Paper No. Lead 1. Business items

1.1 Chairman’s welcome Chairman

1.2 13.00 ‐13.30 Declarations of Interest and Minutes of last Paper:EB21.7.1 Chairman meeting

1.3 Executive Director’s Report – Governance and Paper: EB21.7.2 AM Delivery

2. Items for discussion

2.1 Commonwealth Games – Update on progress for LM the 2022 Games. 13.30‐ 15.45 Green Growth – Ten Point Plan for Green Growth PW in the Midlands Engine. Presentations

Observatory – Midlands Engine Intelligence Hub DD launch.

Levelling up – Approach to the CSR AM

3. 15.45 ‐16.00 Any Other Business Date of next meeting: 20 October 2021, 13.00 – 16.00

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=Draft= Minutes of the Midlands Engine Executive Board – 21 April 2021

Name Position Sir John Peace (SJP) Chairman of the Board Anthony May (AM) Chair, Midlands Engine Operating Board. Chief Executive, County Council Cllr Alan White (AW) West Midlands Councils. Leader, Staffordshire County Council Cllr Simon Geraghty (SG) West Midlands Councils. Leader Worcestershire County Council Cllr Barry Lewis (BL) East Midlands Councils. Leader, Derbyshire County Council Cllr Chris Poulter (CP) East Midlands Councils. Leader, Derby City Council Cllr David Mellen (DM) East Midland Councils. Leader, Nottingham City Council Kevin Harris (KH) East Midlands LEPs. Chair, Leicester and Leicestershire LEP Mark Stansfield (MS) West Midlands LEPs. Chair, Worcestershire LEP Prof. Kathryn Mitchell (KM) Chair, Midlands Enterprise Universities. Vice Chancellor, University of Derby Professor Trevor McMillan Chair, Midlands Innovation Universities. Vice Chancellor, Keele University Rachael Greenwood (RG) Executive Director, Midlands Engine Maria Machancoses (MM) Programme Director, Midlands Connect Ian Harrison (IH) For Marion Sudbury, Regional Director DIT Rachel Dickinson For Rowena Limb, Regional Director, HMG Cities and Local Growth Unit Simon Ablewhite (SA) For John Henderson, Chief Executive Staffordshire County Council Delma Dwight (DD) Director, Midlands Engine Observatory Grant Peggie (GP) Regional Director, British Business Bank Alistair Barrett (AB) Senior Manager, Economics at British Business Bank Dean Fathers (DF) Chair, National Centre for Organisational Resilience

Apologies:

Cllr Bob Sleigh (BS) West Midlands Combined Authority. Deputy Mayor WMCA, for Mayor Andy Street Cllr Martin Hill (MH) East Midlands Councils. Leader, Lincolnshire County Council Rowena Limb (RL) Regional Director, HMG Cities and Local Growth Unit Marian Sudbury (MS) Regional Director, HMG DIT John Henderson (JH) Chief Executive, Staffordshire County Council

EB21.7.1 Page 1 of 3

Item Narrative 1 Introduction & apologies

The Chairman welcomed Members to the meeting and welcomed Professor Trevor McMillan, and confirmed a letter had been sent to thank Professor Alec Cameron for his work on the Board. The Chairman reflected on some of the key meetings in early 2021, including the Business Council, noted the importance of the Observatory’s work and also highlighted the success from the Freeport bids.

1.1 Declarations of Interest

No declarations of interest recorded.

1.2 Apologies received as above.

2 Approval of Minutes EB21.4.1

2.1 Approval of the Minutes on the 21 April 2021.

The Board approved the minutes from the meeting held 21 April 2021.

2.3 Matters arising

None recorded.

3 Governance Matters EB21.1.2

The Chairman invited RG to update Board Members on the Governance matters. RG confirmed vacancies for the Executive Board and updated Members on the positive Midlands Engine Annual Performance Review from Government.

RG provided Members with an update on partner contributions and match funding, noting that this was the Partnership’s best ever year, with over £2.5m of cash and in‐kind contributions over the last 12 months.

RG updated Members on the budget for 2021 – 2022, AM recommended the budget for 2021 – 2022 to Members of the Board which was approved with unanimous support.

4 Directors Report ‐ Delivery EB21.1.3

The Chairman handed over to RG to present the Executive Director’s Delivery Report and welcomed invited guests.

RG noted the huge continuing support from partners across the Midlands Engine Partnership.

Midlands Engine Voice ‐ RG reported that Ministerial engagement has been greater than ever. Engagement with MPs is also increasing through the APPG, which the Chairman emphasised is working cross‐party. RG noted the importance of political engagement in getting Freeports over the line. RG thanked the Chairman for the support noting over 300 meetings on behalf of the Partnership in the last calendar year.

Midlands Engine Access to Finance – GP provided Board Members with an update on findings from research into finance ecosystems and review into the considered needs for an increase in finance to be made available in the future. Board Members thanked GP for the update and agreed to support where possible in seeking increase access to finance through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund.

EB Mins April 2021 EB21.7.1 Page 2 of 3

Midlands Engine Health – RG invited DF to provide Board Members with an update on progress with Midlands Engine Health. DF noted the work which Midlands Engine Health has already done, including supporting the Mental Health and Productivity Pilot. The Chairman thanked DF for his contribution to the work of the Midlands Engine Health Board.

Midlands Engine Observatory ‐ Supply Chains – RG invited Prof Delma Dwight to share insights from the five supply chains pieces of work. DD introduced the five supply chains studies which have taken place and published. DD updated Members on the Midlands Engine Intelligence Hub and its intent to provide support for policymakers across the Midlands Engine. The Chairman noted access to quality data and insights ‐ that this is hugely important in identifying opportunities in closing the productivity gap in the Midlands.

Midlands Digital – RG provided Members with an update on progress with the digital connectivity map. RG invited MS Digital Strategic Board. MS noted the importance of it being regional – in order to be a commercial investable opportunity. Board Members highlighted the importance of digital skills in the region and the need for a conversation at Midlands Engine level with Government about the digital skills gap ‐ and to consider the opportunities across the region if successful with East Midlands bid Digital Institute of Technology.

Strategic Corridors and Midlands Connect – The Chairman requested that the fuller update be moved to a subsequent meeting of the Executive Board. MM provided an update on the strategic economic corridors project and the Integrated Rail Plan, due to be published after the May elections. RG updated on the Budget allocated to this work. MM then talked the Board through the plan and the pieces of work which are planned.

Action: Strategic Corridors and Midlands Connect update to be a future agenda item of this Board.

5 AOB

The Chairman concluded by reflecting on the amount of work that is happening, the focus on the upcoming spending review, and the need for our areas of focus to be pulled together to effectively provide investment opportunities. The Chairman thanked participants and closed the meeting. Date of next meeting: The next meeting of this Board is scheduled for 21 July 2021

Actions Item Action: 4 Strategic Corridors and Midlands Connect update ‐ to be a future agenda item of this Board.

EB Mins April 2021 EB21.7.1 Page 3 of 3

Security Level: Confidential Restricted Unclassified  Commercially Sensitive

Meeting & Date: Midlands Engine Executive Board ‐ 21 July 2021

Subject: Executive Director's Report ‐ Governance and Delivery

Attachments:

Author: Executive Director, Midlands Total no of sheets: 9 Engine (incl. cover sheet)

Papers are provided for: Approval Discussion Information

Summary & Recommendation:

Summary

This report sets out on behalf of the Executive Director of the Midlands Engine an update on matters of governance and progress in delivering Midlands Engine shared core areas of focus, acknowledging the continued and significant support from partners.

Recommendations

1. To note the updates on Chairman’s engagements on behalf of the partnership and Midlands Engine Public Affairs activities.

2. To note the proposed approach on behalf of partners to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2021.

3. To receive updates on partner‐led activities ensuring progress against our Midlands Engine core areas of focus.

Public Affairs Update

Chairman’s activity ‐ Since the last update to this Board in April 2021, the Midlands Engine Chairman has continued senior stakeholder engagement on behalf of the Midlands Engine Partnership. In May, Sir John Peace met with the Rt Hon MP to discuss plans for the forthcoming Midlands Engine Investment Conference. Other notable meetings include: Bernadette Kelly, Permanent Secretary, DfT, to discuss the Midlands Connect Strategy Refresh and the Midlands Engine Integrated Rail Plan; and Andrew Stephenson, HS2 Minister, to discuss the status of the Integrated Rail Plan and the future of HS2 East. Throughout the summer, the Chairman has undertaken a series of in‐person and virtual meetings with leaders across the region to discuss priorities for the Midlands Engine Partnership and to hear more from partners on their local plans.

In addition, the Queen’s Speech in May was an important opportunity to underline the Partnership position on levelling up. A statement was issued featuring quotes from Sir John Peace and Rachael Greenwood welcoming the Government’s intent to ensure sustainable post‐pandemic, post‐EU‐exit recovery and growth in every region in the UK.

Midlands Engine All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) – In May, the Midlands Engine APPG held its first Annual General Meeting, reflecting on 10 months of powerful advocacy on behalf of the region by a group of committed parliamentarians. Joining the AGM were Sir John Peace and the Secretary of State the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, who spoke about the major opportunities for inward investment around the proposed Freeports and East Midlands Development Corporation, and noted the relocation of several Government departments into the Midlands. During the meeting, Darren Henry MP (Conservative MP for Broxtowe) and Lord Ravensdale (Crossbench Peer) were duly re‐ elected as Co‐Chairs to the Midlands Engine APPG. Vice Chair positions, including those who will chair key subgroup themes, were also elected during the meeting and are listed below for Executive Board Members’ information:

Lord Ravensdale (Crossbench Peer) ‐ Energy Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Conservative) – Visitor Economy Baroness Burt of Solihull (Liberal Democrat) – Skills Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour) – Health Dr. MP for Bosworth (Conservative) ‐ Health Lord Coaker of Gedling (Labour) – Digital Lord Patrick McLoughlin of Cannock Chase, Staffordshire (Conservative) – Transport Lord Rooker (Labour) – Commonwealth Games Baroness Verma of Leicester (Conservative) Theo Clarke MP for Stafford (Conservative) Martin Vickers MP for Cleethorpes (Conservative) MP for Burton & Uttoxeter (Conservative) Karl McCartney MP for Lincoln (Conservative) Jane Stevenson MP for Wolverhampton North East (Conservative)

The Midlands Engine APPG Energy Subgroup was held on 15 June 2021, with good attendance from across the political spectrum. Members of the APPG heard from key partners involved in developing the consultation draft of the Ten Point Plan for Green Growth in the Midlands Engine and agreed to receive suggestions for questions and debates in both Houses in support of the final Plan. On 6 July 2021, the Midlands Engine APPG Commonwealth Games Subgroup was chaired by Lord Rooker, and parliamentarians heard about plans for the delivery of the Games and opportunities to get involved at a local level. The next meeting of the Midlands Engine APPG will be held on 21 September 2021 this will be a full meeting of the Midlands Engine APPG focused on International Trade, chaired by Lord Ravensdale and Darren Henry MP with invitations extended to the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP and Rt Hon Liz Truss MP to address the meeting.

Lee Marsham, Government Relations Manager, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee will provide Executive Board Members with an update during the meeting.

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Notes from Midlands Engine APPG meetings and a forward plan of meetings can be accessed on the Midlands Engine APPG website: https://midlandsengine.inparliament.uk/

Party Conferences – As reported previously to this Board, the Midlands Engine will be attending both the Conservative Party Conference and Labour Party Conference during the autumn conference season to secure support and promote key opportunities for the Midlands. Active support will be sought from partners for sponsorship for the conference and, as in previous years, we welcome suggestions from Board Members of potential partners to approach to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

Approach to the Comprehensive Spending Review

Board Members will recall the work undertaken over summer 2020 to draw together a ‘portfolio’ document ‐ Levelling up the Midlands Engine ‐ which was then used to use to secure a range of conversations with both Officials and Ministers in autumn/winter 2020. This work enabled significant growth in awareness within Government departments of the work of the Midlands Engine Partnership.

As part of our continuing approach to amplifying the voice of our region, and in anticipation of a three‐year Spending Review, we are proposing a similar approach. This will include the joint development of a portfolio of regionally significant issues and investment prospects for Government, which address both the levelling up imperative and the productivity gap our region faces. A single, overarching document will highlight key regional strengths and opportunities within the context of stubborn barriers to economic growth which persist in our region – barriers we need support from Government to overcome.

Operating Board members have approved this approach and Rachael Greenwood, Executive Director, will provide Members of the Executive Board with a presentation during the meeting.

Programme Delivery Updates

In May 2021, a letter of grant was received from MHCLG setting out Government investment for the year ahead, together with grant milestones to be achieved. Progress against these milestones is provided to the Midlands Engine Operating Board to ensure that Members stay sighted on programme delivery against goals ‐ providing interventions and support to the programme strands as needed to ensure collective delivery of activities across our Partnership.

A summary of the grant milestones is provided below for Executive Board Members’ information.

Voice Up to 10 Midlands Matters newsletter publications – minimum of 5 to be published by November 2021 Develop website, establish pan‐regional communications and media working group and other comms activity, to be monitored through the quarterly monitoring reports by November 2021

Observatory Agree expanded research programme for 21/22 (End April 2021) 10‐12 Impact Monitors ‐ shared and published on Midlands Engine website by March 2022 (min 5 published by November 2021) Publish annual Midlands Engine State of the Region Report (November 2021, with draft in September 2021 and approved by Executive Board in October 2021) Completion of in‐year research programme for 21/22 including publication of at least 12 distinct research pieces addressing regional research needs (March 2022)

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Energy / Environmental Green Growth Relating to COP26: Hold a Midlands Engine event(s) ahead of before COP26 (October 2021) Hold a Midlands Engine SME themed energy conversation linked to COP26 and a study visit following COP26 (November 2021) Develop a Green Growth inward investment prospectus – pan‐Midlands (October 2021)

Strategic Economic Corridors Confirmed governance in place, linked to Midlands Engine overarching governance, to include Midlands Connect (April 2021) Communications plan in place (July 2021) and immediate high‐ profile delivery of ‘early wins’ outputs/messaging Contemporary data on post‐Covid patterns of movement (March 2022) High level corridors masterplan and implementation plan – articulating opportunities and early actions (March 2022)

International Co‐ordinated plans of events for May 2021‐ Autumn 2021 (End April 2021) Development of bespoke Midlands Engine collateral for identified inward investment priorities, market specific (October 2021) Themed event to link in with Global Investment Summit and as precursor to investment conference (October 2021 ‐ revised) Hold investment conference event, in partnership with CLGU and DIT (March 2022) Report(s) to include advanced evidence base for T&I interventions underpinning high level priorities (March 2022)

Midlands Engine Health (Non MHCLG funded) Deliver bimonthly Board meetings Hold Industry leaders events Development of bespoke Midlands Engine collateral for identified sectors – health, life sciences and medical technologies Advanced evidence base for interventions underpinning high level priorities (March 2022)

Midlands Engine Digital (Non MHCLG funded) Bimonthly Board meetings Complete phase 1 map (April/May) and progress phase 2 by March 2022 Complete Midlands digital competitiveness study by September 2021 Deliver pan regional partnership approach to prioritised barrier busting in partnership with DCMS Advanced evidence base for interventions underpinning high level priorities (March 2022) Establish and lead the Midlands Digital Strategy Board

Phenomenal progress, led by partners, has already been made delivering the above milestones, demonstrating a significant commitment across the Partnership so far this year in achieving our collective ambition for the Midlands. Updates below are to provide Executive Board Members with a summary of key activities so far this year and will be complemented by a number of short presentations during the meeting of this Board.

Midlands Engine Voice ‐ The work of Midlands Engine communications to promote the Partnership with key stakeholders and audiences and ensure that its work is visible, respected, influential and supported has continued at pace. Page 4 of 8

Progress is well underway to create a new Midlands Engine website. The aim of the new website will be to better promote the work, achievements and opportunities of the Partnership to stakeholders and investors, and to champion their work. Proposals are now being requested with a view to selecting a website development partner and commencing work by end of July for delivering in autumn 2021. A key focus for communications since April 2021 has been to support the consultation phase and launch of the Ten Point Plan for Green Growth in the Midlands Engine. This has included the creation of two films (accessed here) along with a number of social media clips featuring the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP and other key partners, including new Midlands Engine Green Growth Board Chairman, Peter Ware, Head of Government Sector, Browne Jacobson LLP. Along with a dedicated social media campaign, a press release was distributed via PR agency Lexington Communications, with subsequent media coverage achieving an estimated online reach of 4.5 million and print reach of 53,000. In line with a key communications objective to engage more effectively with partners, communications contacts across the Partnership have been invited to access a dedicated shared access portal where Midlands Engine collateral, such as social media posts and images, films, clips and templates, can be simply downloaded and used to amplify Partnership messaging. Newsletters, Features and Publications ‐ Midlands Matters, the Partnership newsletter, has moved to a new bi‐weekly format to enable more timely reporting of regional news updates. Issues 12‐16 have been distributed so far this quarter, achieving the MHCLG target of distributing five newsletters by November 2021. In addition to Partnership news and updates, social media activity has been focused around the Midlands Engine Green Growth, as detailed above; Mental Health Awareness Week (10‐16 May), featuring content championing the work of the Mental Health and Productivity Pilot and other partners across the region; Midlands Engine Health; and promotion of key Business Council conversations, including quotes from industry leaders across the Midlands Engine as key ambassadors for the region. Several Observatory reports have been published and promoted, including reports on Gross Value Added and Claimant Count, and the latest Natwest Purchasing Manager Index. As part of the Midlands Observatory Quarterly Economic Briefings, a video update was also produced to provide a snapshot of the economy over the last quarter. Access to these reports can be found here Latest Economic Data | Midlands Engine

Midlands Engine Economic Observatory ‐ ’s leading pan regional Observatory continues to grow and deepen the evidence base to understand the issues impacting the Midlands Economy. The 16th Midlands Engine Regional Economic Impact Monitor was recently published and continues to provide quantitative and qualitative insights into the latest economic trends.

The official launch of the Midlands Engine Intelligence Hub will take place at the Executive Board, providing a substantial asset to the region; better supporting partners with evidence to inform decision making and policy formulation; ensuring greater investment into the Midlands; and ensuring that opportunity is spread evenly across and within the region. The hub provides a new single interactive point of access to all Midlands Engine Observatory products, including: new live and interactive data and Power BI dashboards; spatial visualisations; intelligence briefings; insight pieces from the region’s experts; and Observatory‐commissioned deep‐dive research.

Professor Delma Dwight will demonstrate the Midlands Engine Intelligence Hub during the meeting.

The Midlands Engine Observatory has worked on a detailed piece of work on manufacturing, focusing on the region’s current expertise and future opportunities. These opportunities arise from developments to help reach net zero and the deployment of digital technologies, including: potential to reshore some businesses; more recyclable and reusable goods; wider use of sensors across sectors as diverse as transport, health, and agriculture; and the development of hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Firms could also diversify further to produce goods for multiple sectors. This report will guide the support offered to manufacturing in the region. The Midlands Engine Research Partnership continues to work on deep‐dive research across partner priority areas and two commissions are currently active. The first is a study on the degree of gender diversity in business leadership in the Midlands, examining the barriers to gender diversity and identifying strategies for improvement.

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The second is exploring the potential for creating a net zero carbon ecosystem across the Midlands Engine to accelerate the transition to net zero emissions, including: what activities this might involve; and the size and reach of a potential ecosystem. Headline outputs to data include:

Energy / Environmental Green Growth – The Ten Point Plan for Green Growth in the Midlands Engine was launched earlier this month by Secretary of State and Ministerial Champion for the Midlands Engine, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP. This is the first time a unified vision for the Midlands has been proposed to deliver a greener future for communities in the Midlands and aid economic recovery from the pandemic. It has been co‐created by over 300 partners from every part of the region.

This Plan is how the Midlands Engine Partnership can and will drive a greener, cleaner and better future for today’s and tomorrow’s generations. Delivering this plan has the phenomenal potential, by 2041 to:

 Drive down CO2 levels by 36% from current levels  Create 196,000 high‐value, high‐skill jobs  Significantly boost productivity, generating £24.2 billion in GVA  And play a major part in closing the £76 billion productivity gap

The result will be more opportunities for Midlands communities and businesses, greater social mobility and fewer inequalities ‐ a major step on the road to levelling up, as well as net zero.

Peter Ware, Partner Browne Jacobson and Chair of the new Midlands Engine Green Growth Board will attend this meeting to provide an update and outline next steps for mobilisation.

Strategic Economic Corridors – The Corridors project focuses on the functional economic geographies around two key strategic routes which dissect the Midlands ‐ the A46 corridor and the A50/A500 corridor. Work seeks to coalesce ambition across administrative boundaries, and across public and private sector partners, to maximise opportunities for growth along these important routes.

Analysis work has been conducted around each of the two corridors ‐ by the Midlands Engine Observatory for the A50/A500 and through a commissioned study by Ernst & Young for the A46. Study findings are anticipated at the end of July 2021 after which a presentation will be taken to a joint leadership group for the project ‐ a group which will be drawn from partners actively involved in and investing in the project.

At the most recent officers’ meeting for the A50/A500, MHCLG/DfT funding commitments were set out noting flexibility within the grant provided by MHCLG to support delivery, and a more focused investment from DfT linked to specific transport studies along the routes.

MHCLG funding (£300k) must be match funded and as such partner co‐investment is presently being sought to kickstart the next phase of works ‐ which will include establishing a dedicated project delivery team and Corridors Project Director.

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Work on next steps is now pending a project team in place and it is hoped that this will be achieved by secondment, with positions currently being shared within Local Authority and wider partner groups which have expressed interest in co‐ investment in the project.

Internationalisation ‐ Following tri‐lateral meetings between Secretary of State the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, Lord Gerry Grimstone and Sir John Peace, plans are now underway with MHCLG, DIT and the Office for Investment to host a high‐profile Midlands Global Investment Summit, possibly on 24 March 2022, at a prestige location. The Summit will showcase the top‐tier of regional investment opportunities – the `Midlands Investment Atlas` ‐ to targeted investor delegates, as well as highlight strengths in the Midlands Green Growth, Digital Technology and Healthcare sectors. It will leverage private sector voices to reinforce the credibility of the Midlands as an outstanding place for international investors. Other provisional plans include: Ensuring a strong Midlands presence at the October UK Global Investment Summit and, taking advantage of any regional activity requested by the Office for Investment to coincide with the programme; a smaller VVIP dinner aimed at international investor decision‐makers, taking place later in 2022; and ensuring the Midlands Engine is supporting partners in their ambitions to promote investible opportunities at a range of other major UK and international events.

A refresh of the Midlands Engine Internationalisation strategy (last updated in February 2019) is also planned, with preliminary work on governance, process and scope taking place over the coming months.

Midlands Engine Health ‐ Midlands Engine Health is now in its second phase and focusing on accelerating sector‐ wide growth and innovation through regional collaboration ‐ crucial to amplifying our region’s world‐leading strengths in health, medical technologies and life sciences.

The second Industry Leaders Roundtable is planned for early autumn and will focus on the interface between the public and private sectors. Speakers from Spirit Digital and the Academic Health Science Networks have offered their perspective on the relationship between the sectors.

On 9 July, Midlands Engine Health supported a roundtable event on the subject of diabetes, in partnership with Midlands Health Alliance and Novo Nordisk. Diabetes is of special concern in the Midlands and the event will inform the development of a ‘regional blueprint report’, setting out the key pillars of a regional strategy to improve diabetes outcomes.

Midlands Engine Digital ‐ Three meetings of the Midlands Digital Steering Group have taken place since the last meeting of this Board and work on the three themes for this workstream continues at pace including:

 Barrier Busting – a paper prepared by Steering Group members has been discussed by the Group, alongside case studies on best practice and innovation in the region. Plans are being developed to run a conference for LA planning and digital operators to showcase best practice partnership from across the region (scheduled for late September 2021).

 Regional competitiveness ‐ progress continues at pace for the Digital Innovation Midlands Engine (DIME) project, led by Loughborough University in concert with Coventry University. The project will report on the exemplars of digital innovation across businesses and universities in the Midlands and will be available in the coming weeks.

 Digital mapping – following the completion of digital infrastructure map phase 1, the steering group has proposed further developments for the map to include fibre and key transport links. A digital project coordinator has been seconded from WM5G to ensure work continues with pace. Feedback is still sought from Board Members on how the map might be deployed by their organisations so that phase 2 can be planned and fully resourced.

The Digital Strategy Board, led at the request of Sir John Peace by Mark Stansfeld, has met twice and work continues to identify key regional challenges with a strong focus on digital adoption by SMEs and digital skills Page 7 of 8

for businesses and individuals. Sub‐group meetings are planned to further develop these workstreams. Bimonthly meetings have been arranged until the end of the financial year.

Membership of the Midlands Engine Digital Strategy Board is as follows:

Mark Stansfeld (Chair), West Midlands 5G Rachael Greenwood (Co‐Chair), Midlands Engine Debbie Barnes, Lincolnshire County Council Wayne Langford, West Midlands Combined Universities (MEU) Sarah Windrum, Coventry and Warwickshire LEP Professor Peter Kawalek, Loughborough University Tracy Westall, Department for Transport, Innovate Birmingham and Birmingham City University DfT Board David Richards, WANdisco Blake Bower, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Stephen Jones, Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Ian Smith, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Robert Franks and Rhys Enfield, WM5G

‐ Ends ‐

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