Birmingham City Council

COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan

Consultation Draft • October 2020 Contents

Foreword 2

Consultation - how to comment 3

Executive summary 4

Introduction 8

Policy context 10 • Our vision for recovery.

Principles - our approach to recovery 12 CONTENTS

Challenges and opportunities 14

The plan 18 • Our strategic approach. • Delivery. • Our COVID-19 Recovery Intervention Plan.

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Foreword Consultation - how to comment Welcome to the consultation draft of our Economic Recovery Plan for Birmingham.

Our city is facing one of its biggest ever challenges in dealing with the The purpose of this formal public consultation is to invite comments on the COVID-19 pandemic and knock-on effects on our economy and our draft COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. communities. I am proud of the way that people have come together at this time and the way the City Council and all its staff have risen to the The consultation will be run for a period of 6 weeks from 5th October challenge. 2020 until Monday 16th November 2020 at 5pm.

The measures that have been needed to try to contain the virus have Following the end of the consultation period, the draft Recovery Plan will inevitably had a big impact on our economy, setting back the impressive be amended to take into account the representations received. economic growth of recent years. The crisis has also accelerated trends in the economy, such as the digital revolution and raised many questions We welcome comments on all aspects of the Plan, however in particular about the future of our city. And we still need to address the long-standing we would be interested in your views on the following: challenges of climate change and the deep-seated inequalities in our society - challenges that are now even more obvious. ? Do we have the correct vision?

So, we need to respond to the urgent problems facing the city: managing ? Are the principles correct and do they provide a robust basis for our transport systems, streets and public spaces to cope with the delivering the vision? pandemic; helping businesses to get through the crisis and people to find work and training; supporting families and the vulnerable. But we also ? Have we identified all of the relevant strategic challenges? need to be thinking about the longer-term issues: how will our economy change and what sort of city do we want to see in the future? ? Have we identified the key opportunities?

The virus is very much still with us and our priority is to focus on containing ? Have we identified the key projects under each theme? it. But it is essential that we also plan for the recovery of our economy. We are developing these plans alongside our partners in the Combined ? Are there any other projects which should be included? Authority and we will also continue to work with government and propose steps that they need to take. ? Are there any other funding opportunities which we should identify? We want to engage with businesses large and small and with residents ? Are there any further partners that can assist in the delivery of any of across the city as we develop these plans: just as we have pulled together these projects? to deal with the immediate emergency, we need to work together to plan our recovery and to set a renewed vision for the future of our city. Please submit all responses to: We want to hear from you about the challenges you are facing. If you are a [email protected] business owner or manager, what further support is needed to get through by Monday 16th November 2020. the current period? What are the challenges of the next few years and how do you think your business will change in the future? If you are a resident, The consultation document is also available to view on the Birmingham Be what sort of city do you want to see in the future and how can it adapt to Heard consultation hub https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/ the changes that are taking place? Please note, we cannot respond individually to comments made but all I look forward to receiving your views and your ideas and thank you for views will be recorded and be incorporated into a final Recovery Plan to be your engagement in this process. taken into consideration.

Individual responses will be used solely for this consultation and will Councillor Ian Ward be kept confidential. Any comments used will be kept anonymous and Leader individuals shall not be named. Birmingham City Council

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Executive summary

The purpose of this document is to summarise the City Council’s contribution to supporting the economy of the city as it recovers from the COVID-19 crisis and adapts to changing conditions, including the challenges of leaving the European Union. It sits alongside the plans set out by the Combined Authority and the Local Enterprise Partnership. It is a working document and will evolve in the months ahead: the intention is to engage with local stakeholders to refine it further.

The City Council’s overall priorities A  Place development and • Maximise opportunities for jobs for the recovery from COVID-19 management. and skills provided by existing are: and planned projects and funding. • Creating a more inclusive B Green recovery. economy and tackling the • Engage and work with our inequalities and injustices partners and key stakeholders, highlighted by the crisis. C Supporting people and the West Midlands Combined businesses - especially Authority, GBSLEP, the Core • Taking more radical action to protecting jobs and helping Cities network, and complement/ achieve zero carbon and a green people find training and work. add value to their work. and sustainable city. • Align activities around a series of SUMMARY • Strengthening our public services D  Unlocking and accelerating ‘Big Moves’ - key programmes and creating new services to infrastructure investment. that will have the most impact. address needs. • Focus on what we can do • Building the strength and The following principles will be additionally and differently. resilience of our communities, followed in delivering this plan: based on the positive response to • Focus on what can be got going the crisis. • Follow the vision and principles in a 0-2 year timescale. set out in the Birmingham Our priorities for economic Development Plan. • We will develop and implement recovery are based on the city plans to respond to the impact council’s distinct role in place • Inclusive Growth key cross-cutting of Brexit alongside the wider leadership: principle. economic shock.

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The detailed intervention plan at - Perry Barr - significant • Birmingham Municipal Housing • Employment and skills support • Work with Core Cities to lobby the end of this document shows investment in the area to deliver Trust projects including a - continuing work by the Government to develop a the main projects and programmes new homes, improvements to Passivhaus pilot which will explore Employment Access Team to devolved skills and employment that will deliver these objectives. In public transport infrastructure, whether the standard could be extract maximum social value stimulus package as a pathway to summary these are: walking and cycling routes, met across BMHT homes; and commitments across all contracts an inclusive low carbon economy. community facilities and high- updating the specification to and ensure these are focused quality public spaces. reduce CO2 emissions from new on local unemployed residents A  Place development and homes. and that high-quality jobs are D Unlocking and accelerating management • The Urban Centres Programme delivered. infrastructure development which will include a range of • Supporting the expansion/ • Delivering a transformational projects that will aim to stimulate development of Tyseley Energy • Delivering grants to support the • Delivering the Birmingham programme of regeneration, the re-invention of local centres Park (TEP) - the strategic location recovery of businesses. Emergency Transport Plan to including: and sustain the trend in uplift of the TEP will spearhead support walking and cycling and of local use and interest from urban regeneration in one of • Supporting our town centres and make space for social distancing - HS2 and the Curzon Masterplan residents. It will transform centres Birmingham’s key deprived high streets (including city centre). and working with the Combined - a regeneration scheme set to into diverse, well-connected, areas and enable green physical Authority on transport schemes deliver over 36,000 jobs, 600,000 unique hubs at the heart of local infrastructure including low • Stepping up our approach to and cross-boundary development sqm of employment space, communities. The framework is and zero carbon refuelling and ‘Local Wealth Building’, working corridors. 4,000 new homes and a £1.4 based around three key themes recycling. with key anchor institutions to billion economic uplift. of increased activity, improved keep spending local and build up • Maximising the benefits for - Smithfield - working with connectivity and enhanced local • A renewal of the Big City Plan social enterprises. local communities through local Lendlease to regenerate a 17ha identity. which takes the opportunity to procurement and ensuring that site delivering 3 million sqft of reframe the document in the • Maximising opportunities local people can access the jobs new floorspace and 2,000 new • Bringing forward the context of Route to Zero. This presented by the Commonwealth created. homes. development of the Wheels is a vital document in the next Games Trade, Tourism and site; this site has the potential stage of city centre development, Investment Strategy - the • Delivering the East Birmingham - Paradise Phase 2 - the to provide 1 million sqft of new with a focus on decarbonising WMCA Board have approved metro extension - a crucial redevelopment of the former and improved employment led development; clean air; £2.6 milllion for a programme piece of transport infrastructure library and Conservatoire to development, creating up to embracing technology and designed to squeeze even connecting Birmingham to deliver 10 high quality new 3,000 jobs. innovation. more from the Games which Solihull. buildings which will combine are already expected to bring office, retail and hotel uses with millions of extra pounds into the • Lobbying the Government for new public space. Phase 1 is B Green recovery C Supporting people and West Midlands economy and funding to deliver further public due to complete in 2021, Phase business create thousands of jobs. The transport improvements. 2 will comprise a new hotel, 3 • Delivery of a series of low carbon scheme looks to capitalise on the Chamberlain Square and a new projects as part of the Route to • Creating new employment Region’s time in the international • Work with the Core Cities public square - Ratcliffe Square Zero programme including the opportunities in deprived areas, spotlight to boost its reputation network and propose to address and is due to complete in 2023. expansion of walking/cycling. work is already underway on this as a world-class destination for local government financial gaps Please note this document does in East Birmingham and lessons trade, investment, education and through a sustainable three-year - Peddimore - delivery of a not replace or supersede R20, learnt from the East Birmingham tourism. settlement. 71ha, high quality strategic we will publish an action plan for Inclusive Growth Strategy will be employment site through a joint R20 which will include petitioning applied across the City. • A comprehensive Brexit • Delivering digital inclusion. strategy developed between Government for resources. Readiness Programme. BCC, IM and WMGC.

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Introduction

The purpose of this document is to summarise the City Council’s contribution to supporting the economy of the city as it recovers from the COVID-19 crisis and adapts to changing conditions.

This plan is intended to dovetail recent years. The UK has seen a • Responding to the immediate An Emergency Transport Plan has But there will be three broad with those set out by other 20% fall in GDP in a single month problems of council been produced that sets out the phases overall: agencies in the region, such as the and Birmingham has already seen stakeholders, including actions Birmingham can take to Combined Authority and the Local an increase of over 30,000 (62%) businesses - for example through help enable a low carbon, clean 1. Survival - helping businesses Enterprise Partnership. in claimant count unemployment a flexible approach to tax and air recovery from COVID-19. through the initial emergency. since the beginning of lockdown. rent collection and supporting The plan focuses on the four big For some this will last into next This is a working document rather Some of this impact will be short- Business Improvement Districts. moves from the draft Birmingham year. than a finished statement of policy lived (GDP is predicted to bounce Transport Plan and how these and it will evolve in the months back in the third quarter), but some • Adjusting service delivery and will be adapted to the new 2. Recovery - returning to business ahead. We now intend to engage will be longer term and there is a creating new services - from environment: reallocating road and building back to profitability. with local stakeholders such as severe risk of longer term ‘scarring’ managing the public spaces and space, transforming the city centre, the LEP, Chambers of Commerce, from the loss of jobs. streets to social care services, prioritising active travel in local 3. Reset and renewal - steering the business organisations, BIDs and homelessness and support to neighbourhoods and managing longer-term development of the large businesses to develop it The City Council has already done charities and volunteers. demand through parking measures. economy and adjusting to new further. We have included some a great deal to help ensure that priorities and conditions. key questions throughout the businesses can weather the storm • Managing the emergence from As we move from the initial document but would value your and be ready to move forward later ‘lockdown’ - including street emergency into the recovery This plan sets out a summary of the comments on any aspect of the in the year, including: markings, queue management, phase, the City Council, alongside actions we will take in the next two document. public transport and traffic government, the West Midlands phases. • Delivering government management (see also our Combined Authority and other The COVID-19 pandemic and the programmes - such as paying Emergency Transport Plan). public agencies will need to do all closure of businesses it required is out around £200m of grants to it can to mitigate the impact on having a seriously damaging impact businesses (equivalent to paying • Identifying needs for further our economy. Recovery will be a on the Birmingham economy, back much of our business rate government support, pressing lengthy process in many sectors, setting back the impressive income for the year). government for action and and each sector will need to economic growth we have seen in addressing local government respond differently and in different financial gaps through a timescales, partly according to the sustainable three-year settlement. lifting of ‘lockdown’ regulations. INTRODUCTION

economic recovery plan / introduction introduction / economic recovery plan CONTEXT10 11 Policy context

Existing plans had a profound impact on the investment in recent years and Within each of these priorities The Core Cities network will The city already has a range of economy which calls for a shift in transformational projects like HS2 there will be a series of ’big moves’ continue to lobby the government ambitious growth plans that will our approach. What is new: will act as a catalyst for further which will have the most impact to prioritise ways in which to play a key role in driving the physical development and growth. on the economy. In taking forward level up the UK economy and has economic recovery. These include: • The short-term economic Recently the local economy has this plan we will build on the made a submission to put forward shock caused by global trading been performing strongly on ambitious and successful policies their four key asks, including a • The Birmingham Development conditions and the “lockdown” several key metrics including for economic renewal that were sustainable three-year financial Plan - the BDP sets out a spatial demands a response in terms economic output, workplace already in place at the beginning of settlement; a devolved skills and vision and strategy for the of support to businesses and to employment and business growth. this year, but we will also learn from employment package, and allowing sustainable growth of Birmingham employees and those who lose the crisis and adjust our approach localised financial freedoms to till 2031. their jobs. to the changed world we find unlock new investment. Corporate context ourselves in. • Big City Plan - the 20- • The crisis has revealed more This plan is part of the overall year masterplan for the clearly the inequality and response of the City Council, Partnership Our vision for recovery redevelopment of the city centre lack of opportunity faced by which will also cover public health The city council’s role in economic including key strategic plans for many communities in our and wellbeing, strengthening development and recovery is just We are committed to delivering existing growth plans and Paradise, Smithfield and Curzon. existing economy. This calls for communities and transforming the one part of the map of activities transformational infrastructure and regeneration initiatives. However, the redoubled efforts to promote organisation of the council itself being delivered by a range crisis has highlighted the full scale of inequalities in our current economy • East Birmingham inclusive inclusive growth and challenge to adapt to new conditions. This is of agencies, including central and how vulnerability to economic shocks is unevenly distributed across Growth Strategy - a 20- the ‘old normal’ in economic a longer-term challenge for every government, the West Midlands the population. So, we also want to take the opportunity to think about year vision to transform East development. service that the council provides Combined Authority, the Local economic growth beyond the pandemic and how we can direct achieve Birmingham. and for our ability to provide Enterprise Partnership, the West a cleaner, greener, fairer Birmingham. • The period of lockdown has leadership to the city. Midlands Growth Company and • Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy shown very clearly that we The crisis has revealed the scale the Core Cities network. We seek Birmingham is well positioned to recover, with many significant - the city is a key partner in can take action to reduce of the things we need to put right, to develop and implement our infrastructure and development projects in the pipeline both within the the plans to maximise the environmental damage and the but it has also highlighted our policies in alignment with the work City Centre, at Perry Barr and across East Birmingham. These initiatives transformation growth potential scale of the damage being done. capacity to adapt and take radical of these agencies. will continue and will drive the economy. locally that arises from HS2. The collective response also action when this is called for. Our showed how we can take bold recovery plans will therefore focus The West Midlands Combined Birmingham City Council is committed to building a greener and more • The West Midlands Local action when necessary to meet a on identifying opportunities to Authority has published an inclusive economy in response to COVID-19. We signed a climate industrial Strategy - the city is a common threat. progress four main priorities: initial plan - ‘Recharge the West change declaration in June 2019 and established a cross-party and key stakeholder in the long-term Midlands’ - which calls for £3.2 cross-sector Route to Zero Task Force to deliver the changes needed to plan to shape sustainable and • The period of recovery includes • Creating a more inclusive billion of funding from government. be net zero carbon by 2030, or as soon after as a just transition permits. inclusive growth in the region. the end of the Brexit transition economy and tackling the It is also working on a longer-term The commitment to work towards net zero carbon is itself a catalyst for period and the end of EU inequalities and injustices recovery road map. The CA is economic recovery and new opportunities for reskilling the labour force. Birmingham has a political funding. This could compound highlighted by the crisis. bringing together stakeholders The recovery strategy will include projects which provide high quality commitment to a low carbon the impact of COVID-19 on • Taking more radical action to across the region through the affordable housing, better and cleaner public transport, and both low future (R20). The City Council is businesses as well as requiring a Economic Impact Group, chaired carbon new buildings and a significant programme to retrofit existing committed to continuing the Route re-adjustment in public funding of achieve zero carbon and a green and sustainable city. by the Mayor and an officer buildings. to Zero work, the implementation economic programmes. Recovery Co-Ordination Group of the Clean Air Zone in the city • Strengthening our public services which has a wider remit. We need to restart the economy in a healthy, people focused way, centre, and the Birmingham and creating new services to reskilling and retraining our residents to find jobs in the higher skilled Transport Plan. These key projects Our key assets address needs. The LEP has produced its own and higher paid employment associated with this restructuring is will help to facilitate a greener and Birmingham is at the heart of action plan including several an opportunity for the city to make a dramatic step change in our more inclusive economic future for national road and rail network • Building the strength and initiatives to provide further communities and quality of life locally. Digital infrastructure will be key the city. with growing links to international resilience of our communities, support to businesses. It has to this, ensuring full fibre and 4G/5G coverage as well as delivering markets. The city is a regional based on the positive response to also made representations to digital inclusion. centre for commerce with over the crisis. government for additional funding. What has changed half a million people employed. It Whilst all these plans are still is home to many key commercial, valid, we have produced this plan educational and cultural assets. ? CONSULTATION QUESTION because the COVID-19 crisis has The city has seen record levels of Do we have the correct vision?

economic recovery plan / policy context policy context / economic recovery plan 12 Principles 13 - our approach to recovery

The principles we will apply in delivering this plan are: • We will follow the vision and principles set out in the Birmingham Development Plan. • Inclusive Growth will be an overriding priority. • We will maximise opportunities for jobs and skills provided by existing and planned projects and funding. • We will engage and work with our partners and key stakeholders, the West Midlands Combined Authority, GBSLEP etc, complement and add value to their work. • We will align activities around a series of ‘Big Moves’. • We will focus on what we can do additionally or differently. • We will focus on what we can get going in a 0-2 year timescale. • We will develop and implement plans to respond to the impact of Brexit alongside the wider economic shock.

Our recovery plan complements value-added service activities the spatial vision and strategy towards higher value-added for the sustainable growth of the activities such as advanced city as set out in the Birmingham manufacturing and opportunities Development Plan (BDP). The plan around green growth and the ensures inclusive growth is at the route to zero. In the short to heart of our proposals and future medium term we must maximise way of working. opportunities provided by existing projects and those in the pipeline The nature of the crisis and whilst exploring further funding economic lockdown may lead to options. longer term structural changes in the local economy with some Technology has proved to not only sectors and types of business be critical in these times but also disproportionately impacted. a potential catalyst to change the For example, the crisis has way we live and work in future. highlighted the vulnerability Employers, including the city of the current model of high council, will need to embrace such streets and retail and it has raised change. We will therefore work questions about future agile together with our partners and key

PRINCIPLES models of working in office-based stakeholders, including the West activities, with potentially profound Midlands Combined Authority and consequences for our city centres. the GBSLEP, to ensure we capitalise on opportunities and learn key There will therefore be new lessons from this pandemic whilst challenges as well as potential moving forward with our ‘big opportunities to restructure the moves’ in a joint agenda. local economy away from lower

? CONSULTATION QUESTION Are the principles correct and do they provide a robust basis for delivering the vision?

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Challenges and opportunities

A full analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis is being produced and will be available separately.

The economy overall associated job losses, especially • Tourism and hospitality - The city • HE Sector - The potential The full economic impact of the as government support begins to is a key destination for business impact on the higher education outbreak will not be known for taper. and leisure tourism; the latest sector locally is also emerging some time, but early indications research from the West Midlands as a significant risk for the local are that the economic shock is Alongside these impacts of Growth Company estimates that economy due to the size of the significant. The UK economy went COVID-19 there is the potential in 2018 there were 42.8 million HE sector and its exposure to into recession in the second quarter for a further economic shock if we visits, with visitor spend of £5.7 international students. Work of 2020, with the economy suffering leave the European Union without a billion. The visitor economy by WMREDI on the 6 largest the largest quarterly decline on free trade agreement. generates around £7 billion in universities in the region (Aston, record, contracting by 20.4% in the economic output and supports BCU, Birmingham, Coventry, period April to June. 76,000 full time equivalent jobs. Warwick and Wolverhampton) Sector impacts These sectors have remained shows that these institutions The OBRs central forecast is for a There are some key sectors that closed longer than any and will alone have 155,000 students, 12.4% contraction in UK economic have been particularly hard hit by find it very difficult to return to employ 28,000 staff directly and output in 2020 and this is consistent the lockdown and any subsequent profitable operation in the short support a further 44,000 indirectly with the latest quarterly estimate restrictions that are likely to remain term. Around 70% of cultural with a total contribution to the of a 20% second quarter reduction. in place. The city also has a high and hospitality staff have been regional economy of over £12 This would see the city’s economy level of exposure in these sectors, furloughed. billion. shrink by around £4 billion this year. which include: Research by Oxford Economics • Automotive - The automotive • Aviation and aerospace - The and the Centre for Progressive • Retail and leisure - The city is a industry, worth over £11 billion aviation industry has been Policy Research indicates that the regional hub for retail and leisure to our regional economy, was particularly hard hit by the city’s economy is more vulnerable activity, 125,000 workers are already in difficulty prior to the pandemic, with Birmingham than many other areas due to the employed in these sectors, nearly current crisis with falling demand airport and many airlines making concentration of exposed sectors a quarter (24%) of workplace- for diesels and falling sales in key large scale redundancies. This locally such as hospitality, retail and based jobs. 11,250 SMEs in the export markets. New car sales has had a knock-on effect on manufacturing. city are in this sector, 31% of all have collapsed and demand the aerospace sector with businesses. Most retail except from corporates and individuals falling demand for new aircraft It is estimated that 1 in 3 businesses food shops remained closed is likely to remain subdued in the and cancelled orders. The city in the region were temporarily between late March and mid- short to medium term. Analysis and wider region is home to a closed during lockdown, the loss of June. Around 30% of retail staff undertaken on behalf of the number of manufacturers in the revenue doing this period and the were furloughed and there is City’s Brexit Commission has also aerospace supply chain and firms ongoing impact on trade of COVID strain not only on the retail identified this sector as one that in the region like Rolls Royce and restrictions is likely to result in businesses themselves but on is particularly vulnerable in a no Dunlop have announced large many business closures locally and their landlords. deal Brexit scenario. headcount reductions.

? CONSULTATION QUESTION Have we identified all of the relevant strategic challenges?

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The city does also have some key • Healthcare and life sciences - the thousand or were outside the retail, age residents are qualified to The UK’s departure from the sectors that are more resilient to local area has a large and growing hospitality and leisure sectors. NVQ3+ (a commonly used proxy European Union the impacts of the outbreak and healthcare and life sciences sector This includes businesses that have for a world class workforce), over The economic impacts of the present good opportunities for with a growing reputation as a played a leading role in the city’s 5 percentage points below the UK COVID-19 outbreak are likely to be growth during the recovery which centre for clinical trials and the growth story, particularly across rate of 57.6%. compounded further by Brexit. The will create high quality jobs. wider region having a significant manufacturing and business and transition period is due to end on 1 cluster of medical technology and professional services, have not Claimant unemployment in July January 2021 and this will end the • Business Professional and device businesses. being financially supported and increased by over 2,000 locally current trading relationship with Financial Services (BPFS) - the without support more than likely to stand at 81,165, its highest the EU. The negotiations on the BPFS sector forms a critical part • Low carbon and environmental fail. level since 1987. Claimant count future relationship will determine of the city’s economy, the sector - the city has ambitions for unemployment in the city is the customs and regulatory employs 130,000 people in the a greener economic future, A major issue for SMES locally will now 31,605 higher than it was in landscape that businesses will face city, accounting for 25% of all part of this will be to build on be planning for a new and more February prior to the lockdown; from January. If the negotiations workplace-based employment the existing low carbon and challenging trading environment at an increase of 65%. The claimant are unsuccessful there is likely to locally. Much of the employment environmental sector locally. a time when existing government unemployment rate increased be a further economic shock, due is also in highly skilled and The city and wider region have a support schemes are coming to to 15.0% with further increases to the impact of tariffs and other well-paid occupations. BPFS is strong competitive advantage in an end. A key goal of the recovery expected in the coming months additional costs on our trading a high value-added sector with the emerging green automotive plan will be to support business to as education leavers enter the sectors, such as manufacturing and economic output of £10 billion, sector and seek to become a transition from a business planning labour market in the summer and the impact on labour supply. around one third of the city’s world leader in the development approach around survival to return the furlough scheme is tapered. economic output. Birmingham is of smart, low carbon transport. to a growth trajectory whereby The impact is likely to fall more Forecasts predict that the impact of well placed to benefit from likely business can be supported to heavily on certain communities such a ‘no deal’ Brexit will be less regional consolidation, hubs invest, innovate, create jobs and and in certain areas of the city sharp than that of COVID-19, but and relocations from London as Supporting businesses to survive drive productivity growth in the which have a higher concentration may last for longer, with a reduction BPFS firms review their business and thrive local economy. of low-income households and in expected growth for several and commercial property Birmingham’s business base is people working in the most heavily years ahead. However, the city and requirements post COVID-19. characterised by micro, small and affected sectors. Early indications the region are very exposed to medium businesses, most with a Skills and labour force impact are that young people and BAME decisions on global investment and • Digital and creative industries relatively low turnover. Businesses Prior to the current crisis the residents are disproportionately production, due to the scale of our - the city has a burgeoning across the city have seen trade city’s workforce was already affected. manufacturing sector. digital and creative cluster. The and revenue fall dramatically and characterised by lower skill levels, local area is home to around whilst some have been less directly lower employment rates and At the end of July 156,200 Both economic shocks will coincide 10,000 digital and creative firms affected, most are no longer higher rates of unemployment Birmingham workers were and may well reinforce each other, employing nearly 50,000 people pursuing growth, investment and and economic inactivity furloughed, over a third (35%) of for example the supply problems boosting the region’s economy creating jobs. amongst working age residents. eligible employees in the city. caused by COVID-19 and the trade by in excess of £4 billion every Unemployment in the city has Many of these will be vulnerable to costs from Brexit. Businesses that year. The sector is well placed to Businesses in the city have been rising recently and the city unemployment when the scheme is have rundown their stocks during take advantage of opportunities benefitted from government has the highest unemployment withdrawn in October. COVID-19 supply problems and emerging from the pandemic support during the lockdown but rates amongst the core cities, well exhausted their cash reserves such as EdTech. A move towards many smaller firms without business above the UK rate and the gap A sustained interruption to the during ‘lockdown’, will not be well full fibre and full 4G/5G coverage premises have been ineligible for with the national average has been education system combined placed to respond to Brexit. as well as support for digital some or all direct support. Over widening. Resident qualification with changing education and inclusion will strengthen the focus 20,000 of our SMEs have missed levels in Birmingham are already training choices by employers The city council is implementing a on digital industries. out on the small business grants well below the national average and individuals as a result of the comprehensive Brexit Readiness and discretionary grant scheme, and amongst the lowest within the pandemic has the potential for long Programme in order to mitigate the which either had a RV of over £51 UK core cities. 52.2% of working term impacts on qualification and potential impacts of Brexit on the skill levels of the local workforce local area and service delivery. which in turn could further constrain the recovery.

? CONSULTATION QUESTION Have we identified the key opportunities?

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The plan

Our strategic approach Capitalising on the city’s already established assets, economic strengths and opportunities, the overarching vision for recovery will be of a sustainable, green and inclusive place that has people at its heart. This vision will be secured through the delivery of a series of big moves and underpinned by our key principles.

Action will be taken under four key headings, reflecting the distinct role of the city council: A Place development and management. B Green recovery. C Supporting people and businesses - especially protecting jobs and helping people find training and work. D Unlocking and accelerating infrastructure investment.

Delivery current EU funding supports small sector investment, including foreign and medium sized businesses. It investment will be a key part of a A partnership-based approach is also critical to the city council’s successful recovery. Delivering the regional response provision of employment and skills to COVID-19 has been and will and business support programmes. Stakeholder engagement continue to be a partnership A stakeholder engagement plan exercise. The West Midlands Funding provided through the will be drawn up and implemented Combined Authority has a clear LEPs is also uncertain beyond 2021. as we take these actions forward role in co-ordinating a regional Announcements are anticipated in partnership. Key partners will THE PLAN economic strategy and providing from the Government on the include the Combined Authority, leadership and a voice to the national approach to economic the LEP, the Chambers of whole city region in working with recovery and representations Commerce, the West Midlands government. WMCA also delivers have been made for investment in Growth Company and major the regional public transport regional growth and recovery. commercial developers. system and provides strategic leadership on transport investment However, the most important Intervention plan and management. The LEPs and source of investment in The Recovery Intervention Plan Growth Hubs and the Growth Birmingham’s recovery is the set out below breaks down Company will also make an private sector. Commercial interventions into survival, recovery important contribution. investment has been running at a and renewal phases, illustrating high level and there are concerns what can be progressed now given Funding about the impact of the crisis on current powers and resources, The position on public funding future investment in construction what we can progress in the short- is currently particularly uncertain. and the ongoing attractiveness of medium term recovery phase EU funding is due to end and we commercial office space, given the subject to some additional support await government announcements drop off in rental income and the (e.g. HMG funding on brownfield (expected in the autumn) on the attraction of more agile working land) and what we are looking replacement Shared Prosperity experienced during the ‘lockdown’. for in the longer term in terms of Fund. It is estimated that 80% of Sustaining and restoring private restructure and transformation.

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Our COVID-19 Recovery Intervention Plan The followingtables break down interventions into recovery and renewal phases. It identifies what we can get on with now and in the short-medium term, areas where we are seeking further support from government, progress on existing programmes and who our delivery partners are for each project.

1 Place development the city and lobby for additional centre development, with a focus The first phase of the framework Once the public health crisis has support and resource where there on inclusive growth, low carbon addresses 10 centres, identified ended it is vital that we as a city is potential for development to and sustainable development. because they have immediate develop a long-term response deliver major employment and In looking at the next stage potential for change which can which recognizes that the economic growth opportunities in the development of central drive wider activity. However, damage inflicted by COVID-19 will Birmingham we will engage with the core themes in the UCF can be felt differently across our city. The City Centre has developed and involve our communities and be applied to any centre - it is Without a place-based economic into a major economic asset for stakeholders and capitalise on the intended that where there is response, the inequalities that we Birmingham; however in just a few considerable expertise that resides sufficient interest and resources saw before the Coronavirus will short months life in the centre has within the city. officers will support additional become even more entrenched dramatically changed. It is vital centres to lead on their own and our objectives to deliver that we work with our partners and Our responses will also move strategies, in line with these core inclusive growth will be even harder stakeholders to try and understand beyond the city centre and will themes. A ‘Phase 2’ document to achieve. what the future holds for the city prioritise our high streets and including other centres such as centre and the people living and urban centres; helping to drive those due to benefit from new rail The Council has a range of major working in it. their reinvigoration and transform stations will also be considered. development sites that have the them into diverse, well-connected We will also work with the WMCA potential to provide much-need Whilst the BPFS sector has and unique hubs at the heart of and TfWM to establish a delivery jobs and help shift the economy to proven itself to be resilient in local communities. Our Urban programme for schemes where high-value sectors. The importance quickly adapting to new ways of Centres Framework provides a funding has been identified and of schemes like Paradise and Arena working it will be important that strategy to support urban centres a list of further priority projects to Central together with the wider we understand what these shifts transform into diverse, well- align funding programmes construction sector should not be mean in terms of demand for connected and unique hubs at underestimated. As well as the commercial space as well as more the heart of local communities Structural changes in the residential investment and jobs generated by fundamentally for the city centre as and is based on the core themes property market together with an the schemes themselves created a ‘place for the future’. The future of increased activity, improved anticipated squeeze on housing in the construction phases the of the retail sector in the centre connectivity, and enhanced local ownership demand exacerbated work space and wider world however appears to be significantly identity. In order to support the by COVID-19 will also require a class environment that these more challenged as evidenced with recovery and reinvigoration of re-examination of our affordable developments are creating are the John Lewis announcement that our high streets we will accelerate housing delivery plans. The crucial to allow businesses to its full-size department store in delivery of the UCF and develop Birmingham Municipal Housing expand, relocate to the city and Birmingham will close. a delivery strategy for the initial Trust (BMHT) programme has also recruit when they arrive here. 10 centres. In doing so we will plans for 3000 homes over 9 years, Our focus needs to be on ensuring It is clear that our socio-economy engage meaningfully with Business which relies upon cross-subsidy we stay committed and help is experiencing a set of major to Improvement Districts (BIDs) as from sales. These assumptions are deliver what is a major pipeline of strategic changes in which well as established business and now being revised based on lower regeneration and development. disruptive innovation sweeps community groups to understand sales returns. An uplift in funding aside existing business models. their short, medium and long- for affordable homes will support We will continue to bring The extent and reach of these term needs. We are keen to work these schemes to continue and sites forward as planned and, changes are perhaps alarming. with BIDs on their recovery plans expand, with a new consideration where possible, identify other This is therefore an opportune and begin to work collaboratively of intermediate housing options to opportunities to accelerate time to review and reframe the on ways of supporting and support affordability on the sales development. In doing so we will Big City Plan as a vital strategic reinvigorating our urban centres. side. continue to raise the profile of document in the next stage of city

economic recovery plan / the plan the plan / economic recovery plan g Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners actions 22 actions 23 Commercial development Renewal. Commitment Outline BCC Property review from partners. brief under Services Regeneration Birmingham Smithfield Renewal. Will require EZ application BCC, Planning • Given the profound threat Work with private development. - City Centre • Working with Lendlease additional public submitted. and Development to what is one of major and public sector WMGC major to transform a 17ha site OBC - approved funding. economic assets we will partners to developments delivering 3m sqft of new Cabinet Autumn Partnership Lendlease establish a working group understand the GBSLEP floorspace and 2,000 new 2020. GBSLEP/EZ ask is established. to undertake a review of the COVID-19 impact homes. circa £100m. GBSLEP city centre’s office and retail on the future of City centre • Funding needed for sector, and given their close the city’s office stakeholders site remediation and economic relationship, the market. infrastructure works. leisure and F&B sectors; in doing so we will engage Review of BCC Snowhill Renewal. Public funding Business BCC, meaningfully with a range CAB buildings. • The project is centred on the for access and case under Transportation of stakeholders, including major redevelopment and OBC approval infrastructure. development. Business Improvement Options transformation of Snow Hill December 2020. Network Rail Districts, developers and appraisal. station and its immediate businesses to understand environs. FBC completion their short, medium and • The scheme will play Dec 2022. long-term needs. a significant role in • Outcomes from the review contributing to the delivery Land Assembly will inform options for of the growth agenda for Programme 2023 the future transformation the City by both improving - 2027. of the Council’s Central the railway station and Administrative Buildings connectivity and creating Phased (CAB) estate. Changes in 112,000sqm of new Implementation ways of working including office-led development from 2025. increased levels of accommodating over 7,700 homeworking amongst jobs and 200 homes. City Council staff already necessitate a review of our Birmingham Curzon Renewal. Funding for Funding for BCC, Planning operational portfolio. • Our Masterplan for infrastructure and Digbeth High St and Development • Our land and asset Curzon aims to maximise Work with assistance with improvements ownership can be used the regeneration and Bruntwood, abnormal costs. submitted to Bruntwood strategically to support development potential of Aston Uni and MHCLG and development and attract HS2 with plans in place to BCU to join up GBSLEP. BCU the flows of capital through provide 36,000 (net) jobs. masterplans proactive partnership 600,000sqm employment and maximise WMCA recovery Aston University working and promotion of space, 4,000 new homes and the Knowledge plan includes investment opportunities. £1.4bn economic uplift. Quarter as a hub £61m for the WMCA • We are keen to do more for skills and Creative Quarter Public Sector Relocations Recovery. Work with WMGC Arena Central BCC Planning to accelerate what are enterprise. and £70m for GBSLEP • The city is well placed to to position the already chosen as and Development ambitious plans for the area; Martineau site seize opportunities from city as a prime a ‘hub’ for HMT. we will work with partners to development. likely regional consolidation, destination for WMGC maximise the potential of the hubs and expected HMG relocations. surrounding Knowledge and relocations out of London. Creative Quarters as well City Centre Enterprise Zone Renewal. Extend the period In discussions BCC Planning as major gateway sites like • A key initiative which has of rate relief for with GBSLEP and Development Martineau. helped to make Enterprise Lobbying HMG businesses within Supporting Our Future City Plan - Route Renewal. Engagement Engagement plan BCC, Planning Zones (EZ) successful is that with support from the EZ from the GBSLEP the future of to Zero from stakeholders in development. and Development businesses located in the the GBSLEP. 31st March 2018 the city centre • We will develop a and partners. area could claim rate relief. to 31st March compelling vision and This helped to make them 2025. strategy for the next era attractive to new occupiers of city centre growth and and also helped incentivise development. new development. • Planning work will embrace • Rate relief ended on the principles of economic and 31st March 2018, however, environmental resilience and with the impact of COVID-19 deliver on our objectives of potentially affecting meeting growth needs for levels of occupation and everyone across jobs, skills development then extension and housing. of this incentive could go Continued g some way to help to mitigate some of that impact. Continued g economic recovery plan / the plan the plan / economic recovery plan g g Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners 24 actions actions 25 Regeneration Wheels: Strategic Site Recovery and £3.5m We are BCC Planning CWG Trade, Tourism and Recovery. FBC approval of OBC approval of WMGC - major Support - Site Development renewal. continuing and Development Investment Programme £23.6m. £23.6m. employment Funding to work with • No other Commonwealth FBC approval - BCC sites • The Wheels site has the the WMCA to Games in history, has November 2020. Board potential to become an promote the site delivered more than a established. attractive location for high as a regional and games time only Trade and quality employment use strategic priority Investment programme. which delivers inclusive for investment. The B2022 TTI programme and sustainable growth, is for a three-year period improved transportation and from September 2020 to employment and training September 2023. opportunities. • Over a benefits realisation • It has the potential to period stretching to provide 1m sqft of new and 2027, having worked with improved employment-led Government analysts on development, creating up to methodologies, we expect 3,000 jobs the programme to deliver: • Additional funding is - 68 additional FDI projects, required to bring forward the of which 39 will be in the delivery of sites of regional region. significance. - 3,000 new jobs through FDI, of which 1,700 will be in the Peddimore, Strategic Site Recovery and Outline strategy BCC Planning region. Support - Promotion and renewal. in development. and Development - £23m additional spend by Business Attraction leisure visitors in the region. • Peddimore has the potential Joint strategy WMGC - £13m regional sales growth to provide up to 10,000 developed through exports from the jobs and drive growth in between BCC, IM region. the logistics and advanced and WMGC. Supporting Prioritising East Birmingham Renewal. Once adopted Strategy at BCC manufacturing sectors. our high • In light of existing the Strategy will consultation • Ensuring the marketing streets and deprivation and the Strategy and be a framework stage. NHS of sites better reflects urban centres particular demographics Implementation for the co- opportunities for local of the area will mean that Plan adopted. ordination of WMCATFWM people and developers East Birmingham is likely partner resources are mindful of the need to to be particularly badly Delivery. as well as JCP encourage relevant local affected by COVID-19. providing a temporary uses. • Using the framework of strategic rationale DWP the East Birmingham and evidence Maximising Perry Barr Regeneration - Recovery and All of the land has BCC Planning Inclusive Growth Strategy base for future the legacy CWG Legacy Development renewal. been assembled and Development we will prioritise social and funding asks. and benefits • We will maximise the for the residential economic interventions of the positive legacy of the Produce a development, as well as innovative Commonwealth Commonwealth Games masterplan including approaches and pilot Games for Perry Barr through to guide the future phases. initiatives. direct housing delivery long-term Development is • Delivery will be co- and broader interventions development of underway. ordinated by the East that will support the wider Perry Barr. Birmingham Board regeneration of the Perry and via the emerging Barr area. East Birmingham • By 2022 the first phase of the implementation plan. residential scheme will have Recovery. £1m awarded BCC fund BCC (Comms, been delivered to provide Reopening High Streets from HMG. governance Neighbourhoods, new homes, highways Safely Fund • The Fund is providing £1m Phased actions established. Inclusive Growth, works completed to unlock million from the European June - November. European and development sites as well as Regional Development International an improved environment Fund (ERDF) to support Affairs, for active travel, and a new the safe reopening of our Transportation) station and bus interchange. high streets and other Continued g commercial areas. The BIDs work will focus on the following priorities: - Developing an action plan to safely reopen their local economies. Continued g economic recovery plan / the plan the plan / economic recovery plan g g Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners 26 actions actions 27 - Communications and Working with the WMCA to Renewal. HMG approval of Recovery asks WMCA public information deliver regional funds at scale regional recovery submitted to activity. • We will work with the West asks. HMG. BCC, Inclusive - Business-facing Midlands to develop and Growth awareness raising deliver a regionally deployed activities. Fund to bring about a step - Temporary public realm change in affordable housing changes. provision. • Landmark investment of over Urban Centre Framework Renewal. Delivery strategy UCF adopted BCC, £650m will bring forward at (UCF) Investment Programme will determine January 2020. Planning and least 35,000 additional new • The UCF provides the Develop a future funding Development, homes across the region - of strategy to support urban delivery strategy requests. Working with Transportation which over 15,000 will be centres to transform into for initial 10 the WMCA affordable. diverse, well-connected and centres. to establish unique hubs at the heart of a delivery Anchor • Plural ownership of the Renewal. The Anchor CLES local communities and is programme for Institutions economy and procurement: Institution based on the core themes of schemes where and Anchor institutions seeking Network will: increased activity, improved funding has been Community to exit from the role they • Provide advice, connectivity, and enhanced identified and Wealth have played in meeting technical local identity. a list of further Building basic needs of sections of support • In order to support the priority projects the population, will need and training recover and reinvigoration align funding to work to recover social to Anchor of our high streets we will programmes. organisations and businesses Institutions accelerate delivery of the capable of taking on these to build their UCF. needs - particularly in those capacity to neighbourhoods where key harness their Affordable BMHT - sustaining affordable Recovery. Management Continue to work BMHT businesses or organisations spending housing housing development of internal with contractors have been lost as a result power, role as • Support for local authority resources. and be flexible of the crisis. Businesses and employers and and registered provider to support their social sector organisations, asset owners affordable house-building cashflow and with high local social and to stimulate and property purchase, both minimise impact economic value, in hardest equitable local to escalate direct delivery of adherence to hit neighbourhoods could economic of schemes, and intervene COVID-19 related be identified and supported development. to purchase properties from requirements on to take on some of these • Bring Anchor house-builders to sustain construction. roles. This will ensure Institutions their development plans. that those arrangements together to that are put in place to collaborate Review housing and Renewal. We will lobby BMHT shore up the foundational on shared remediation grant HMG to support economy in neighbourhoods priorities, programmes to sustain a range of also generates wealth amplifying affordable housing measures that for the people of that the impact of development will provide the neighbourhood - as their individual • There are a range of ways in necessary support consumers, workers and Anchor which funding for affordable and resource to citizens. This could include Institution housing can deliver a increase levels on-going municipal action, activity. necessary boost to delivery of affordable but also alternative models • Extend take-up of new affordable homes at a housing of business ownership of Community time when these are likely to development. • Socially productive use Wealth Building be in greater demand. of assets: Linked to the approaches • This will include proposals above, for the identified among Anchor around the use of Right to neighbourhoods, an audit of Institutions in Buy receipts and S106 funds, Anchor Network assets could Birmingham particularly as a means to be undertaken, and plans and West match funding from available put in place to utilise them Midlands public sources; extending to recover lost foundational through the timescale for expenditure economy activity. advocacy of RTB receipts (3 years+) to activities. more accurately reflect the Continued g realities of the construction and development pipeline. Continued g

economic recovery plan / the plan the plan / economic recovery plan g Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners 2 Green recovery Transport Plan and Clean Air local economy and develop local 28 actions The City Council’s declaration of Zone, that can help support the economic resilience. This work 29 a climate emergency together shift and deliver new economic will be co-ordinated with wider • Fair and just labour markets: • Pioneer new with the introduction of new opportunities. There is also an active travel and green and space WM Police and UHB have forms of continued to recruit staff Community development and transport policies opportunity to reframe the Big City initiatives in the area in accordance throughout the lockdown. Wealth will accelerate the opportunity Plan as a vital document in the next with the approach set out in the Other members will want to Building in the to drive growth in new markets, stage of city centre development, East Birmingham Inclusive Growth resume normal recruitment UK, working including smart and future mobility, with a focus on low carbon and Strategy. activity as lockdown alongside CLES a shift to zero emission vehicles and sustainable development. lifts. Local employment in areas such as green technology. By prioritising a green recovery, pathways could be prepared land and asset We will position East Birmingham we can go some way to helping in particularly hard hit management, Improvements in quality of life as a key focus for taking forward to address impact on our business neighbourhoods so residents employment - including less pollution and the City Council’s Route to Zero base whilst also leading the city can benefit from these and community congestion, need to be embraced agenda via the development of towards a more climate resilient opportunities the moment finance after the pandemic; fortunately, the low and zero-carbon economy. economy and achieving our net the lock down is lifted. the Council has a strong suite of Local assets will be harnessed to zero commitments. • Making financial power accelerate the transition of the work for places: Look at policies, such as the Birmingham the financial power of anchor institutions to direct Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners financial flows to support the actions immediate local economic recovery of particularly badly Birmingham - Route to Zero Action Plan Renewal. TBC. Political declaration BCC effected neighbourhoods Route to Zero • In order to deliver on our low of a climate (e.g. access to grants, re- carbon objectives, we will Action Plan emergency and directing investment, social prepare an action plan that agreed by commitment to value bonds, etc). will set out our commitments Council - ‘route to zero’ by to deliver programmes September. 2030 or as soon The Birmingham Anchor covering low carbon housing, as a ‘just Network is preparing two behaviour change for residents Ongoing transition’ allows. projects to launch the to prioritise low carbon implementation moment lockdown allows. lifestyles, heat decarbonisation of programmes. BCC governance An employment project for and sustainable transport. and staffing neighbourhoods in East resource agreed. Birmingham particularly Our Future City Plan - Route Renewal. Internal resources Plan review BCC, Planning effected by Covid-19 and a to Zero allocated. underway and Development procurement project for South • The plan will provide the Consultation. Birmingham to address the vision, ambitions and backlog in housing repairs framework of key actions for Adoption. created by Covid-19. delivering the city’s growth needs in the context of decarbonising development; greening and adding biodiversity; clean air; minimising waste, embracing technology and innovation. East Ward End and Cole Valley Recovery. £2m. Work underway BCC, Planning Birmingham - Skills Hub with GBSLEP to and Development Route to Zero • The project will create an Secure funding. prepare business enhanced skills and digital case. training hub at Ward End Delivery. Park, supporting local SMEs and social enterprises. • Further employment and skills opportunities will be created through a linked programme of connectivity and green infrastructure projects focussed on the strategic Cole Valley green corridor creating new connections through green spaces, connecting residential areas and places of employment so as to facilitate active travel and economic recovery. Continued g economic recovery plan / the plan the plan / economic recovery plan g g Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners actions actions 30 31 Cole Valley Corridor Recovery. £2m. Proposals have BCC, Planning • We will also develop • The Cole Valley will be the been submitted and Development programmes of business focus for investment in to MHCLG. support to complement walking, cycling and green activity undertaken by our and blue infrastructure, university partners. We which will be delivered will look to align existing in partnership with key grant programmes, such as stakeholders such as the the Clean Air Zone grant Environment Agency and programme, to support with the close involvement new and existing SME’s of local communities to with the development of maximise social value. new products and services • This work will be co- as well fleet transition and/ ordinated with wider active or retrofit. Such activity will travel, green and space also support the growth of initiatives in the area in Tyseley as a hub for low and accordance with the approach zero emission refuelling. set out in the East Birmingham Inclusive Growth Strategy. Hydrogen Buses Renewal. £25m Phase One £16m BCC Installation of Clean Energy Renewal. £5m. Pre-application BCC • Our support and investment EU/HMG - GBSLEP/LGF/ from Waste discussion for hydrogen buses has the EOI to be OLEV/FCHJU • We will bring forward underway potential to deliver a step- submitted. funding. schemes to power electric ERDF application change in numbers of low- public and commercial in development emissions public transport Delivery: Phase Two - sector heavy waste vehicles vehicles. Perry Barr Business case and across Birmingham; using • Building on an existing refuelling facility bid development renewable power from commitment of 20 such - 2022. underway. Tyseley incinerator and other vehicles we will introduce power plants over the area. a new programme of 60 vehicles. Electric charging point Recovery. £3m. Contract BCC • We will also enter into network development awarded. discussions with Government • We will work to ensure that Includes around national funding for the necessary infrastructure deployment and hydrogen buses. is in place to support the employment • The approach and expected shift to zero-emission modes for network investment will lead to a of transport. development. range of economic benefits, • This will include including increasing the development of fast and Engagement number of apprenticeships, rapid charge point network at community employment opportunities, (22-52kw) and installation level with develop new supply chains of 394 charge points across providing training as well as stimulating the city prioritising taxis and opportunities and investment into the city. public accessibility. apprenticeships. • Commercial vehicle charge Refuelling hubs Renewal. TBC following £5m committed. BCC points facilities development Start September. • Building on the success of evaluation of (50kw-150kw min). the Tyseley refuelling hub Erdington phase one. Cadent (British Tyseley Energy Park (TEP) - Recovery and £10m. Proposals have BCC we will develop a network of refuelling facility - Gas) Strategic Site Support renewal. been submitted hubs to include Erdington delivery between • Support for Tyseley Energy to MHCLG. University of and Perry Barr (as key points 6-12 months. ITM Park is key to our objective Undertake a Birmingham in access to motorway of sustaining and enhancing governance network) using these as a South facility - Ryse (hydrogen the innovation ecosystem review with Aston University demonstrator and catalyst 2023. providers) within Birmingham. The stakeholders to for development of new low strategic location of the maximise the BCU and zero refuelling in the ESB TEP will spearhead urban value of TEP. South of the city. regeneration in one of Webster and • In doing so we will prioritise Birmingham’s key deprived Develop a clear Horsfall support for commercial areas and be a catalyst for business offer vehicles, HGV and public the wider application of to attract SMEs GBSLEP transport vehicles. Continued g green physical infrastructure and capital including low and zero investment into carbon refuelling and the area. recycling. Continued g economic recovery plan / the plan the plan / economic recovery plan g Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners 3 Supporting People and We need to ensure that the We have been speaking to 32 actions Business recovery phase and planned businesses and the results are 33 As home to a young and ethnically economic growth creates stark: the vast majority have seen a Housing - a Birmingham Municipal Recovery and Procurement later Initial work BMHT diverse population, our region has broad-based opportunities that collapse in revenues, are suffering catalyst for Housing Trust renewal. in the year - 100 is underway been disproportionately exposed benefits all of our communities. serious cashflow problems and are • Updating housing homes which through a pilot green and to the negative jobs impacts of It will be vital that we support predicting that they will be letting sustainable specification to make represents a ERDF bid. development development greener; significant offer the economic crisis. There is a risk our communities to obtain the staff go or even closing their business. requirements will include for the market. that without urgent intervention, right skills to access employment sustainable improvements young people are at risk of entering opportunities. Much of this work Responding to the needs and and interventions such as the labour market during a severe will be driven by the Council’s demand of local businesses will triple glazing, solar PV panels downturn, exposing them to the Employment Access Team and will require a major boost to the linking to battery storage, risk of unemployment and longer- involve joint work with the WMCA local system of business support updating boilers and thermal term scarring effects. Similarly, on the design and delivery of infrastructure given the unique insulation. many older workers, including regional support programmes. circumstances of individual • This would be an opportunity those in the automotive and businesses and to ensure that to provide a significant COVID-19 has also created support is accessible to all test bed to trial different manufacturing sector have lost their an unprecedented crisis for businesses and fewer of them ‘fall technologies and means of jobs or have been furloughed. insulation. Birmingham’s business community. through the cracks’. • Tender for modular homes for BMHT - the aim will be to Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners encourage alternative means actions of construction - i.e. that are more sustainable and Supporting SME Recovery Fund Recovery. £100m from Proposal has BCC, Business delivered in UK and/or by business • Birmingham has developed HMG. been submitted and Innovation local supply chains. a comprehensive proposal Secure national to HMG with • Pilot programme to deliver for a Business Survival Fund, and regional support from the Passivhaus certified social which includes grant funding support for other Core Cities. rented council houses, as well as an equity scheme. approach. testing the costs and benefits • Such a fund has the potential of this approach in practice, to help 5,000 SME’s to and exploring the potential survive and continue trading for Passivhaus standards to and safeguard 20,000 jobs. be applied across the BMHT programme. Refocus of EU funded Recovery. Approval needed Lobbying BCC, Business Business Growth Programmes for reprofile of MHCLG to and Innovation Retrofit programme Recovery and Working with BCC, Housing • Grants of £10k-£200k to SME’s existing grant provide flexibility • This work enables a wider renewal. the WMCA on a operating across all business programmes. to permit existing local supply chain to carry regional retrofit WMCA sectors to complement funds to be used out major building works programme. existing government loan for business to housing stock. It will provision and additional to survival. maintain longer term the other COVID-19 financial sub-contractor building aid measures. contracts and improve job BMHT • Funding will also be security, apprenticeships, focussed on businesses material delivery etc. that were doing well pre Much of the work involves COVID-19 and now seeking creating highly insulated to move towards recovery. living environments, which • Will Support 300 businesses significantly impacts heat and safeguard 1,500 jobs. loss and therefore reduces Brexit Readiness Programme Recovery. Further funding Action Plan in BCC, European fuel poverty and damp living • Addressing the business- requests may development. and International conditions. related impact of Brexit, be submitted Affairs identifying areas that are following linked to the economic production of recovery from COVID-19 action plan. crisis and addresses risks in relation to: - Trading Standards. - Environmental Health. - Loss of EU Funding. - EU Settlement Scheme. - Health and Wellbeing. - Impact of Economic Shock on BCC’s Revenue and Demand for Services. Continued g economic recovery plan / the plan the plan / economic recovery plan g g Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners actions actions 34 35 Regional business support Recovery. HMG approval of Recovery asks BCC, Business Working WMCA Economic Recovery Ask Recovery. HMG approval of Recovery asks BCC, Business • Targeted financial support regional recovery submitted to and Innovation with regional • We will support regional regional recovery submitted to and Innovation will help industries whose asks. HMG. partners to proposals that, subject to asks. HMG. demand for products maximise a positive decision from has been most severely Ongoing work funding for Government will assist Ongoing work impacted, but whose with the WMCA city’s workers thousands of young people with the WMCA capability is critical to the to put local and workers by equipping to put local long-term success of our business needs them with the skills needed business needs economy. and issues front for the future through and issues front • Our support for the region’s and centre of apprenticeships, training, and centre of business support asks will their business upskilling and employability their business help thousands of businesses support pitch to schemes, through an support pitch to adapt to the post-COVID HMG. investment of £550m. HMG. environment and pivot to Supporting Apprenticeship Levy Recovery Funded through Working with BCC, Skills & high-growth sectors creating our young • Launch support for SMEs Develop existing resources BCC HR Employability, 43,900 jobs through £532m people into with a direct link back to EAT implementation BCC HR investment. work to manage recruitment to plan with HR any new positions created Maximising Maximise jobs and skills Recovery. TBC - business This work BCC, either directly or to backfill job through planning and case in is currently Employment opportunities created opportunities procurement activity Ensure major development. undertaken by Access Team as a result of workforce from • Using a place-based projects are the EAT and may progression. Opportunities regeneration leadership approach and the consistent in require additional can be directly linked back and continued focus on existing the use of the resource. to WoW and YPP project infrastructure projects and acceleration Birmingham participants thus focusing projects for of shovel ready schemes benchmark and on our priority groups across local people to extract maximum social approach (i.e. 60 the City. value particularly for jobs person weeks Youth Unemployment Recovery. Succession YPP funded. BCC, and apprenticeships as well per £1m spend • Support for young people funding from Employment as graduate placements and on site related into training pathways, YPP completes October 2021. Access Team work experience. From the construction apprenticeships and job delivery in latest claimant count figures activity). opportunities. Address October 2021 for May there are now 77,710 specific barriers through - succession people of working age one to one personalised arrangements to claiming benefits - this is the support. Address issues be in place. highest since 1987. around functional skills, ESOL and digital. The latest Supporting Regional Cultural Catalyst Recovery. Regional ask of Working with the WMCA claimant count figures for our cultural Programme HMG. WMCA to secure youth unemployment is sector • Working with our regional the resources BCC, Skills and 15,105 (18-24), the largest partners we will push the to ensure local Employability increase amongst the core case for additional from businesses cities. There is an additional HMG to provide critical benefit. cohort of not knowns 16-18 support to the cultural sector as well as hidden (over 18) to adapt business models NEETS that are not part of and accelerate digitisation in these figures. Alternative response to COVID-19 and offers are required to reopen at pace. attract and engage with • Such an approach will this group. Currently the transform the life chances project supports 57% BAME and business potential participants. of our young and diverse • In collaboration with the population, ensuring that the Preparation for Adulthood benefits are felt widely across Team and the Birmingham the region and help realise Children’s Trust delivery the economic benefit arising of additional support to from the Commonwealth vulnerable young people Games. which would include Continued g employment engagement with specific employers to support development of supported opportunities for work experience, apprenticeships and jobs. Continued g economic recovery plan / the plan the plan / economic recovery plan g g Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners 36 actions actions 37 Class of 2020+ Recruit 3 x Funding for staff Business case in BCC, Skills and This resource would also • Focus on those pupils in Gr3 and 2.5 x resource TBC. development. Employability link to the libraries resource Years 11 and 13 who are Gr4 officers – currently delivering through now looking at their next timescale to be the HMP Winson Green. steps in terms of FE, HE, confirmed. • Additional Support for Start apprenticeships or jobs. Ups to meet increased Ensure that we have an demand through libraries excellent Clearing System resource and space with one in place that will help young to one support ensuring people and their parents available resource, advice make informed choices and business planning about their next steps and guidance is available. This access toopportunities. would also operate on a • This provision would be peripatetic basis. extended to offer support • Digital Inclusion is key to over 12 months - 2 years with working in the Recovery enhanced support for young Phase and supply of people with SEND (without appropriate IT equipment an EHC Plan) needs. that could be used by workers undertaking the Supporting BCC Jobs and Skills Website Recovery. £150k new Business case in BCC, Skills and above activity. This would people into • Front face one stop online funding required. development. Employability require 20 laptops and would work web page for jobs, skills, Business case extend the ability to offer education, apprenticeships approval for new Skype sessions and online support for both individuals funding. workshops. and businesses. Set out our apprenticeship levy transfer Support for furloughed Business case in Immediate Business case in BCC, Skills and provision and brokerage of workers development but response development but Employability skills support. This would • 122,800 of the City’s would equate required as would equate encompass existing support workforce are currently on to 3 Officers at capacity and to 3 Officers at through EAT, ESF funded furlough (24%) - this could Gr4 to support provision does Gr4 to support projects WoW and YPP, BYS, produce a second peak of furloughed not currently exist furloughed BCS, Libraries and BAES. redundancies in October workers to access due to funding workers to access should employers not be in support over the constraints on support over the Rapid Response to WOW2 Support for In development. BCC, Skills and a position to call back their next 6 months. existing ESF next 6 months. Redundancy submission to redundant Employability employees as and when projects. • Work with strategic partners, DWP (ESF c.£4m) apprenticeships Capacity exists businesses reopen. including DWP/JCP and NCS - support for which are within YPP to bring forward a single unemployed over forecast to rise currently - we Jobs and Skills Taskforce Recovery. WMCA to take Dialogue to WMCA point of access programme 25 years to run significantly as would however • Based on previous a lead role in propose this of support for affected from 2020 to 2023. apprenticeships need a flexible experience in addressing Agree approach. convening the approach to be BCC, Inclusive people into alternative are disrupted. and responsive large scale redundancy and Taskforce. taken forward Growth/ jobs and sectors. Work with YPP - current team to support job losses as per Rover and Develop with the WMCA. Employability and FE and ITPs to develop provision could both redundancy more recently Carillion, a Taskforce Formulate Skills training provision to support support and furloughed regional taskforce to come membership. resources and upskilling and reskilling of unemployed from support provision together led by WMCA and capacity to affected individuals. 16 to 24. together. supported through LAs and Agree terms deliver against DWP to ensure that those of reference, key priorities. Immediate start £150k to support Business case in BCC, Skills and Making the most of our people that lose their jobs as key actions and once recruitment all activities and development. Employability libraries a direct result of Covid19 can timelines. • Intergenerational skills is completed and ICT procurement be supported into alternative support including family delivery for 12 aspects for jobs and skills opportunities. learning sessions with ICT months. 12-month period. This is critical given that we based learning support. This are heading towards the end would address functional Co-ordinators of the Government’s Job skills i.e. literacy, numeracy, to administer Retention Scheme. digital capability and ESOL the available that are often barriers even resources for entry level jobs. This 2 x Gr4 for these would need co-ordination interventions. based at LOB, spokes across the 36 community libraries as well as resource through the existing mobile facility.

Continued g economic recovery plan / the plan the plan / economic recovery plan 4 Unlocking and accelerating and infrastructure projects of a to providing access for all to 38 infrastructure development scale that has the potential to essential services including health 39 The city has some unique provide significant numbers of and education and to supporting opportunities as a result of jobs as well as improving how individual self-development and investment in HS2 and through people and goods move about fulfilment. Our focus needs to be being host to the Commonwealth the city. As well as the investment on ensuring we stay committed Games. By accelerating major and jobs generated by the and help deliver what is a infrastructure investments we schemes themselves created in major pipeline of transport and can unlock growth opportunities the construction phases better infrastructure projects. across the city. The Council has transport is key to opening up a portfolio of major transport job and training opportunities,

Theme Intervention Phases and key Ask Progress Partners actions

Transport and Major projects Renewal. DfT funding Business cases in BCC, Highways Highways: • This will include significant allocations to be development. delivery of investment in refurbishment Start 2021. agreed. major priority of the city’s highway projects network and major projects Complete 2026. like the A38(M) Aston Expressway Tame Valley Viaduct - and securing the DfT’s funding allocation of £72.1m towards this major scheme. The works, which will be delivered through an innovative approach to ensure that there is no adverse impact to traffic on the Expressway.

East East Birmingham Metro Renewal. BCC Birmingham • The planned Midland Metro public East Birmingham to Solihull TWFM transport route is a crucial part of the improvements changes needed to the area’s transport infrastructure. CONSULTATION QUESTION Delivering HMG (DWP) are currently Recovery. HMG In progress. WMCA ? Digital introducing new measures for programme. Have we identified the key projects under each theme? Inclusion their European Social Fund (ESF) programmes to address Digital Inclusion. BCC are currently exploring how we can access this resource either as new funded provision or CONSULTATION QUESTION adaptations and financial top- ? ups to existing ESF provision Are there any other projects which should be included? of which we already have significant provision. This new resource is expected to target the most excluded and disadvantaged people in our communities and provide CONSULTATION QUESTION them with access to digital ? ‘kit’ such as pre-paid dongles Are there any other funding opportunities which we should to provide digital access to identify? those currently without access. We will embed this into our existing provision so that this can be rolled out and targeted in a holistic way which will CONSULTATION QUESTION complement existing support ? rather than be purely a stand- Are there any further partners that can assist in the delivery of any alone and separate resource. of these projects?

economic recovery plan / the plan the plan / economic recovery plan Useful web addresses www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/file/4439/ birmingham_smithfield_masterplan www.paradisebirmingham.co.uk/scheme/vision/ www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/file/5433/ adopted_birmingham_development_plan_2031 www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/download/155/ birmingham_curzon_hs2_masterplan_for_growth www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/download/214/big_city_plan www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/economy/ebigs/supporting_documents/ East%20Birmingham%20Inclusive%20Growth%20Strategy%202020.pdf gbslep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/HS2-GS-FINAL.pdf assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/802091/west-midlands-local-industrial-strategy- single-page.pdf www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/file/16305/ emergency_birmingham_transport_plan www.wmca.org.uk/media/3975/ west-midlands-economic-recovery-our-ask-and-offer-hd-spreads.pdf

Contact

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© Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright The Birmingham City Council COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan produced by and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Birmingham City Council, Planning and Development, Inclusive Growth Directorate. Birmingham City Council. Licence number 100021326, 2020. Birmingham City Council COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan

Consultation Draft

October 2020