sign in sign up
<<
Home , Birmingham Business Park, West Midlands (region)

West Local Industrial Strategy

May 2019

1 Contents

Foreword 04

Executive summary 07

Strategic opportunities 17

An inclusive, clean and resilient economy 39

The five foundations of productivity

Ideas 43

People 50 Professor Lord Bhattacharyya Infrastructure 60 Business environment 68

The Local Industrial Strategy for the builds on Places 73 the heritage of the region’s manufacturing, research and technology sectors. Implementation 81 The strategy sets out how the West Most recently the National Automotive Midlands will take advantage of Innovation Centre and the UK the incredible skills, infrastructure Battery Industrialisation Centre were and innovation of our region. direct results of his advocacy. In that spirit, we dedicate this strategy Professor Lord Bhattacharyya to the life and achievements of was a constant champion of the Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, founder West Midlands and a key figure in of WMG at the University of . its industrial renaissance. It is our He was personally responsible profound hope that this strategy will for bringing millions of pounds of build on his vision and achieve his investment to the West Midlands. ambition of making the West Midlands Professor Lord Bhattacharyya a world leader in manufacturing, played a key role in the renewal of technology, innovation and skills. Jaguar and the West Midlands’ automotive sector.

2 3 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy Foreword

The West Midlands is undergoing a renaissance. Our collective national and local In partnership with the government, The West Midlands is a global force They provide the real-life testing ambition is for the West Midlands the West Midlands aims to drive growth and a major part of the UK economy, needed to get new medicines from Local Industrial Strategy to and meet government’s national generating £99bn of GVA — five the lab to patients. They provide demonstrate this approach in action Future of Mobility Grand Challenge. per cent of UK output. The region modern components and materials through our collaborative national, The region’s research strengths across is growing fast, with output up 27 to global supply chains in a wide regional and local leadership. its universities – and its leadership in per cent over the past five years. A range of industries. The region’s Developed locally and agreed with battery industrialisation – are well- record number of people are in work digital creative businesses create established. This Local Industrial and the lowest number are out of games played across the world. government, this Local Industrial Strategy sets out the priorities to Strategy shows how partners will work. Productivity is increasing too, Universities and commercial research combine these strengths with at twice the rate of the UK in 2017/18. increase the productivity of the West and development centres across the Midlands and our national economy. manufacturing expertise and world- Carbon emissions have reduced by region are central to the UK. They class supply chains in towns such 18 per cent over the last five years. It belongs to the West Midlands and are developing the skills, products has been developed in collaboration as , and . The West Midlands is large and diverse, and processes the UK will need with hundreds of businesses, civil The country’s first Future Mobility consisting of three interlinked but tomorrow, as well as being major society organisations and citizens. Zone — between , distinctive economic areas. Its cities, employers and core to the future of and — will host many towns and rural areas are home the towns and cities that host them. But it also marks a change in the way the testing of new technologies. to communities with very different government is working to support Shared leadership to support the region. It represents the next Other priorities — ranging from health- characteristics. All share a long history care innovation to modern services of creative design, manufacture and the delivery of the national phase of long-term partnership and modern Industrial Strategy builds on important foundations set and creative content — show how the production. Doing things differently region is looking towards shaping and leading the way is what defines The modern Industrial Strategy sets in place since 2010. These include the previously agreed City Deals, Devolution future markets. This Local Industrial the West Midlands. This is a legacy that out a path to increasing productivity Strategy also makes clear how the survived the industrial restructuring and earning power across the country. Deals, Strategic Economic Plans, work across the Midlands Engine and recent region will boost productivity across the of the 1970/1980s and is now the It formed a partnership of innovators, Industrial Strategy’s five foundations engine of current and future success. packages to support delivery on local job creators and world-class businesses ambitions on skills and housing. and maximise the impact of major Firms across the region have been positioning the to public and private investment over supplying components and assembling seize the global opportunities of Focus the coming years. will vehicles from the first bikes to today’s the new industrial revolution. And The West Midlands aims to continue soon start to strengthen the region’s autonomous pods. They built the it acknowledged the vital role of growth and success, while ensuring a connectivity. Coventry is the UK’s City world’s first production line and ambitious local business and civic more inclusive and balanced economy, of Culture in 2021. Birmingham will host now create virtual worlds for testing leaders to deliver prosperity. where all communities and residents the Commonwealth Games in 2022. new products based on real data. benefit and no one is left behind.

4 5 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Evidence led, inclusive and forward looking Executive Summary This Local Industrial Strategy and its supporting documents published locally are based on a This Local Industrial Strategy comes at a pivotal time in the West robust evidence base developed Rt Hon Greg Clark MP Midlands’ history. by independent commissions Secretary of State for Business, The West Midlands is in renaissance: This Local Industrial Strategy and research over the last three Energy and Industrial Strategy output is up 27 per cent over the past demonstrates how the West Midlands years. Led by the West Midlands five years. Productivity increased is its future and building an with Local last year at twice the rate of the UK inclusive and balanced economy. Enterprise Partnerships, it has been average. High Speed 2 will further Together with the supporting co-designed with the involvement strengthen the region’s connectivity documents published locally, it shows of over 350 organisations. with national markets – 90 per cent of the West Midlands is taking action Collectively, we have worked with which are already within a four-hour to continue growth in productivity national and local leaders and with drive. The West Midlands, working and earning power for all. Andy Street a wide range of businesses, sector with partners in the Midlands Engine, It also makes clear how government Mayor of the West Midlands groups and the civil society sector is also a growing international force: is backing these efforts, working as part of a public consultation foreign direct investment projects in partnership with local leaders, during the autumn of 2018. have trebled since 2011. Carbon business and stakeholders across emissions have reduced by 18 per It is not a strategy set in stone the region to help realise the cent over the last five years. and will continue to evolve as the West Midlands’ potential. economy changes, working together with the communities and businesses Seizing opportunities for the future of the West Midlands, including Cllr Ian Ward them fully in its implementation. Leader of Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Combined Authority Building on its distinctive strengths ``ensure all communities can contribute

Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth – from transport innovation to data- to and benefit from economic driven health and life sciences and prosperity whilst protecting and globally competitive supply chain firms enhancing the environment; investing – this Local Industrial Strategy sets out further in social infrastructure; the steps the West Midlands will take to: measuring progress; and ``drive growth by strengthening ``designing actions using a balanced the foundations of productivity; set of inclusive indicators. Jonathan Browning contributing towards the Grand Led by the Mayoral Combined Challenges; and taking advantage Authority, working with Local Enterprise Chair of the Coventry & of market driven opportunities in Local Enterprise Partnership Partnerships and local authorities, this mobility, data-driven health and Local Industrial Strategy marks the and Chair of the West Midlands life sciences, modern services, Combined Authority’s Strategic next stage of the West Midlands’ long- creative content, techniques term partnership with government. Economic Development Board and technologies; and

6 7 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

It is built on strong foundations. Driving growth: Future of Mobility ``develop an innovative and integrated West Midlands High Speed 2 Growth Since 2010, local leaders, working in The Industrial Strategy’s Future transport network, including Strategy. The government will work partnership with government, have of Mobility Grand Challenge delivering the UK’s first large-scale 5G in partnership with the West Midlands delivered historic City Deals with recognises the unprecedented testbed to enable a new approach to to maximise the benefits that High Greater Birmingham and Solihull, change in transport technology real time data and user management Speed 2 will bring to the region. Coventry and Warwickshire and expected over the next decades. across the whole transport system. the . Having secured Data-driven health Building on its significant existing The government is already working and life sciences significant Growth Deal funding, the in partnership with the West strengths in research and firms from The West Midlands is a growing West Midlands then came together as Midlands to support this priority original equipment manufacturers centre for testing and proving health one to take on important new powers through investments including to connected supply chains in rail, innovation, working in partnership and secure new leadership through £20m for the Future Mobility Zone two successful Devolution Deals. automotive and aerospace, the West with businesses and patients. Midlands is well placed to shape the between Birmingham, Solihull and Since the launch of the Industrial UK’s responses to this challenge. Coventry; and up to £50m for 5G Building on investment in the Strategy, this partnership has gone trials across the West Midlands. Institute of Translational Medicine The West Midlands is the centre of and 5G, the West Midlands’ ambition from strength to strength. This There is significant public and private transport innovation in the UK, leading is to build on its growing cluster includes the West Midlands and investment already in place to help the smart, low carbon movement of to deliver improved clinical care government agreeing an historic Skills realise these opportunities. To further people and goods. It will build on the and health outcomes, alongside Agreement, unlocking up to £69m complement locally led commitments, UK Battery Industrialisation Centre significant business growth and to help equip people with the skills the government and West Midlands will: they need to get on, as well as an to consolidate its role as a battery scale-up success. This will be through ambitious outline Housing Package. research, development (R&D) and ``work with local partners to maximise accelerating the commercialisation And, working with the Department manufacturing hub. By combining the region’s contribution to achieving of treatments and technologies to for International Trade, the West the opportunities of 5G, the Future government’s existing ambition to drive business and patient benefits Midlands is building on positive trade Mobility Zone, High Speed 2 and the deploy three world-leading trials of – this will support the national Life growth and supporting high potential Commonwealth Games, it will also connected autonomous vehicles by Sciences Industrial Strategy. create a more connected region. 2021 in the UK, with the West Midlands exporters reach global markets. To continue driving progress towards aiming to deploy the first fully The West Midlands will build on these To continue driving progress towards this priority, the West Midlands will: this priority, the West Midlands will: operational connected autonomous strengths and address barriers to vehicles in the region in advance of ``continue to invest in the business growth. Some of the approaches ``partner with local specialist the 2022 Commonwealth Games; support and networks needed within this Local Industrial Strategy manufacturers and R&D centres to to drive health innovation ``help drive up greater foreign direct are region wide; others are focused help create new markets and foreign cluster development; on specific spatial needs or direct investment opportunities, investment in electric vehicle opportunities. It highlights a range such as those in Electric and manufacturing. This includes ``improve health outcomes and of programmes that are already Connected Autonomous Vehicles completing the development of the provide the healthcare jobs of in train and sets out long-term but and battery manufacturing; UK Battery Industrialisation Centre the future through new technical deliverable ambitions for the future. and maximising the impact from the career pathways in local healthcare; Faraday Battery Challenge; and more personally-targeted care; and digitally-enabled care; ``build on its existing partnership that has supported the development of the

8 9 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

``convene partners across the West form part of West Midlands’ efforts of these will build on findings and Ideas Midlands and Midlands Engine to to maximise its contribution to the approaches set out in the forthcoming The West Midlands aims to further maximise opportunities through Artificial Intelligence and Data Grand Business Productivity Review. drive up levels of business innovation the Strength in Places Fund and Challenge mission to transform To complement locally led and the commercialisation of other national competitive funds. the prevention, early diagnosis commitments, the West Midlands research and development, working To complement locally led and treatment of chronic diseases, Skills Agreement with government in partnership with government, commitments, the government such as cancer, diabetes, will help support more young people across the Midlands Engine and will work in partnership with disease and dementia by 2030. and adults to get the skills they need internationally. The West Midlands will the West Midlands to: Modern Services to benefit from the forecast increase draw on the expertise of its universities, Catapult centres and research ``support the development of a locally in jobs, as well as upskilling and The West Midlands aims to build its strengths, with a focus on mobility, led West Midlands Translational retraining local people of all ages. reputation as a high-value business life sciences, digital, and developing Medicine and Med-Tech Commission. and professional services location Creative content, techniques the supply chains of the future. This brings together national and benefiting from a highly diverse and and technologies local public leaders, government, highly skilled local workforce, through To drive progress towards achieving The West Midlands is well placed to universities, entrepreneurs and start- investments in the construction this priority, the West Midlands will: take advantage of the global growth ups, and builds on the strengths sector, the business environment, in creative content, techniques ``ensure the availability of both of the West Midlands life sciences infrastructure and skills. and technologies, building on a space and finance for innovation, cluster, underpinned by robust To drive progress towards achieving history of success in transforming encourage cross-sectoral innovation, evidence. The Commission will this priority, the West Midlands will: products, processes and services. and deepen the business-led advise on the development of a and peer-to-peer networks; locally led roadmap to accelerate ``continue to accelerate construction To build on this opportunity, the commercialisation around the of varied high-quality housing, high- government and the West Midlands will; ``create new support programmes grade employment spaces and targeted at local supply chains and region’s ‘lab to patient’ ecosystem. ``continue to maximise the improved connectivity, maximising smaller, high potential firms, including continue to support the West opportunities arising from the `` the opportunities of High Speed through demonstrator projects, Midlands’ international investment Department of International Trade’s 2 and ; enabling accessible investment offer in healthcare technologies with High Potential Opportunities opportunities and access to finance the Department for International ``continue to foster innovative scheme within the gaming products on attractive terms; and Trade and local partners, through partnerships between firms and sector in the existing Midlands Engine Trade education institutions, opening up (Coventry and Warwickshire). ``create a new foresight programme opportunities with clear progression to generate new ideas and and Investment Programme Board. The government and West Midlands and entry routes for diverse promote awareness of the latest This will explore opportunities will build on the opportunities of the communities and ensuring the market demand for innovative in international markets for new Commonwealth Games and Coventry availability of the technical skills SMEs and new technologies. therapies, devices and techniques, City of Culture, to develop and that are in high demand; and to drive business growth through showcase digitally-led approaches To further complement locally led increased commercialisation ``design locally led peer-to-peer to resident and visitor services and commitments, the government will of healthcare technologies. networks to support and improve experiences. The West Midlands’ work in partnership with the West ``build on existing and new partnerships the productivity of local firms and ambitions will also be supported by Midlands to deliver local priorities between Government, industry, bring together professional business the new Digital Skills Partnership. and achieve the West Midlands’ full universities and the NHS in driving services to provide a visible and role in the national 2.4 per cent innovative product development to trusted offer to local firms. Both research and development target by:

10 11 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

``continuing to support the entire region. To further complement Infrastructure ``building on its existing partnership development of the locally led West locally led commitments detailed The Industrial Strategy recognised the that has supported the development Midlands Innovation Framework in the Regional Skills Plan, and transformative effects of High Speed of the West Midlands High Speed 2 and new programmes. This will building on the work of the West 2 on strengthening the economies Growth Strategy, the government consider, where appropriate, how the Midlands Inclusive Growth Unit, the and communities of cities, towns will work in partnership with opportunities identified in the Local government and West Midlands will: and rural areas across the country. the West Midlands to maximise Industrial Strategy could provide ``support the development of two The West Midlands is well-placed the benefits that High Speed an organising framework for bids Institutes of Technology (IoT) to to realise this potential and deliver 2 will bring to the region. by local partners into the Strength deliver higher technical education a region-wide, digitally enabled, The collaboration on energy, aims to in Places Fund and other national in the West Midlands. Government integrated transport system. bring together the right stakeholders competitive funds delivered by UK will work with the IoT, led by and collectively manage energy Research and Innovation; and The West Midlands has received College to redevelop land to provide £332m of the government‘s £2.25bn investment efficiently, particularly ``helping to build the optimum teaching facilities for higher level Transforming Cities Fund. This will when innovative technologies are environment for foreign direct skills programmes. The IoT, led support the extension of the West being commercialised or require investment in battery R&D and by , will focus on Midlands’ Metro System, with an strategic infrastructure investment. electric vehicle manufacturing. advanced manufacturing and Industry initial focus on connecting cities 4.0 through greater collaboration Business Environment People towns between and of further and higher education in the Black Country. Working in partnership with the The region is highly diverse with a and creating pathways from level government and building on the wealth of talent and enterprise, and three to level six apprenticeships; The West Midlands is also committed strengths of its existing Growth Hubs, the devolution of the Adult Education to delivering an ambitious Housing the West Midlands aims to boost continue improving labour market Budget represents an opportunity for `` Package. The government is supporting business dynamism and productivity. access and opportunities for the West Midlands to provide more the West Midlands’ growth potential This also includes ongoing work disadvantaged communities through targeted support for local people and to through the Urban Connected to increase the Midlands Engine’s the existing locally led Employment ensure adult education provision best Communities Project. This marks international reach and success. Support Framework taskforce. This meets local need and supports labour the next step in the national 5G would include exploring barriers for To drive progress on this priority, market access and wage progression. Testbed and Trials Programme. underrepresented groups, such as the West Midlands will also The West Midlands Combined Authority women, as demonstrated through In addition to ongoing and locally support businesses by: led commitments, the government secured a Skills Agreement with the gender employment gap; and ``developing a wrap-around innovation, government in July 2018, unlocking will work in partnership with the continue to strengthen early research and development offer, up to £69m to boost digital and `` West Midlands, including: intervention and preventative including facilitating the development technical skills, job opportunities and services. Working with existing local ``the Department for Business, and sharing of intellectual property productivity across the region. This will and national resources, this work will Energy and Industrial Strategy will for collaborative innovation and help support more young people and continue to bring together national continue working with the West considering where it can improve adults into work, as well as upskilling and regional organisations – including Midlands, Energy Capital, regulators innovative firms’ access to finance; and retraining local people of all ages. and industry partners to explore Public Health – supporting ``supporting high growth-potential This Local Industrial Strategy and economic inclusion and social change. locally led options on potential new local institutional models business with the skills needed to the ambitious West Midlands innovate through programmes Regional Skills Plan show how the for managing regional energy investment and markets; and in universities, Catapults, and Skills Agreement will work for the technology innovation networks;

12 13 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

``developing a range of supply chain ``continue to work with councils West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy – approach programmes, supporting innovation to help transform and revitalise and the switch to electric vehicles, town centres through the Regional services and the transfer and Town Centres Task Force. This will This strategy and its supporting This West Midlands Local Industrial adoption of new technologies across complement locally led work to documents are based on a robust Strategy sets out actions targeted a wide range of sectors; and develop expressions of interest to evidence base developed by at each of those barriers based on independent commissions and the evidence and where the market ``supporting businesses by the national Future High Streets research over the last three years. alone will not deliver the outcome establishing a locally led virtual Fund and form the basis for intensive required. These actions will support Productivity Factory targeted work to deliver the government’s Led by the West Midlands Combined the whole of the West Midlands to take at SMEs. This will facilitate Stronger Towns Fund objectives; Authority with Local Enterprise advantage of the strategic opportunities expert industry benchmarking, ``build on the ground-breaking work of Partnerships and local authorities, it has ahead. Place is woven throughout, coaching, and management the West Midlands Inclusive Growth been co-designed with the involvement with each foundation section being masterclasses for firms within the Unit by developing Inclusive Growth of over 350 organisations. Local clear about the spatial distribution of West Midlands, and will draw on Corridors that put communities at leaders also worked with a wide range barriers and opportunities. This Local learnings from the forthcoming the centre of investment decisions of businesses, sector groups and the Industrial Strategy does not set new Business Productivity Review. and incorporating the West Midlands civil society sector as part of a public targets. In 2016, the West Midlands Inclusive Growth Framework into consultation during the autumn of 2018. agreed a comprehensive approach to Places decision-making, ensuring that The economy has been considered monitoring the overall performance of The West Midlands is home to all public expenditure targets the from two perspectives. This has the economy across a wide range of interlinked but distinctive cities, wider set of economic, health led to the identification of: indicators designed to drive an inclusive towns and rural areas in three and social outcomes which the economy. The Mayor and Combined connected economic areas. The West Midlands has agreed; and ``new market driven opportunities Local Industrial Strategy celebrates for growth; and Authority Board keep these targets establish a virtual Productivity this, and the region’s wider `` under review and publish progress in Factory targeted at SMEs. This ``specific barriers and opportunities connections, demonstrating how an annual State of the Region report. will facilitate expert industry that exist for each of the foundations the strengths of each add up to benchmarking, coaching, and of productivity, together with more than the sum of their parts. management masterclasses for their spatial distribution. The West Midlands Future of firms within the West Midlands, Mobility priority, for example, draws and will draw on learnings from the on strong manufacturing supply Business Productivity Review. chains across the Black Country In addition to locally led commitments, and clusters of R&D intensive firms the government will work in in Coventry and Warwickshire. This partnership with the West Midlands to: Local Industrial Strategy also shows the spatial impacts of actions on ``work with local partners to each foundation of productivity, maximise the long-term impact and how High Speed 2 will improve of the new UK Shared Prosperity connectivity across the West Midlands. Fund once details of its operation and priorities are announced To drive forward economic following the Spending Review. opportunities across the region, the West Midlands will:

14 15 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Major new market opportunities West Midlands and the Future of Data driven Creative content, Modern health and techniques and Future of Mobility mobility life sciences technologies services

A distinctive economy – Creative and innovative, with global supply chain strengths The West Midlands as the centre of transport innovation in a diverse and young population, well connected, trading and entrepreneurial. the UK, leading the smart, low-carbon movement of people Unique opportunities ahead in the Commonwealth Games and City of Culture. and goods and connecting communities to new opportunities. Mobility will change radically The scale of the challenge requires Sector strengths The next decade will be a period of local and national collaboration. The large-scale change to how people government and the West Midlands Low carbon Aerospace Logistics / Metals & are already working together to technology transport materials and goods move, with significant Precision meet the ambitions of the Future of technology innovation in mobility and continued Energy and component Innovative Mobility Grand Challenge. Building clean growth manufacturing Future mobility supply chains changes to consumer preferences and global markets. This includes not only on significant investment to date, the shift to electric and connected the West Midlands, working in Life sciences Professional Rail Construction autonomous vehicles but also rapid partnership with the government, Devices skills Digital rail Offsite modern technological change such as 5G, commits to the next phase of plans to Skills and a full manufacturing Diagnostics, High Speed 2 with the West Midlands already the realise shared goals. This includes: real life testing services sector Land remediation home to the UK’s first 5G test-beds. ``working with local partners to maximise the region’s contribution to Creative Food & drink Automotive Tourism Adapting to these challenges will create huge economic opportunities nationally achieving government’s ambition to Games, Next Gen Machinery, Battery Shakespeare’s and for the West Midlands, driving deploy three world-leading trials of content, process food & fluid development England connected autonomous vehicles by and product benefits across the Midlands Engine. control tech, Drive train Commonwealth 2021 in the UK, with the West Midlands design and Games The West Midlands will maximise these Photonics R&D CAV opportunities by combining advances in aiming to deploy the first fully designer maker Business data science, artificial intelligence and operational connected autonomous City of Culture sensing technology while completing vehicles in the region in advance of large-scale infrastructure projects the 2022 Commonwealth Games; such as High Speed 2 and improving Actions to unblock barriers to productivity and growth, the transport network across the integrated in places and communities to drive inclusion region. This involves a range of initiatives, including maximising the Foundations of productivity – drivers and enablers of growth impact of the £322m secured for the West Midlands through the Industrial Strategy’s Transforming Cities Fund. People, skills Infrastructure Ideas / Business Place & employment & environment Innovation environment

16 17 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

The West Midlands as a global centre of transport and mobility

A history of automotive and There is also a concentration of highly cross-sector collaboration innovative supply chain firms, working The West Midlands cluster includes across the full range of manufacturing, cutting edge research and development materials, design, testing and data and established original equipment services that make up the future manufacturers. These are supported mobility industry, including components by globally competitive, robust and for future battery manufacture. interconnected supply chain firms, These strengths and assets provide including in aerospace, automotive, the platform for creating, developing, rail and the crucial supporting testing and building global and national industries of metals and materials. solutions to the future of mobility and These supply chain strengths underpin associated supply chains. This includes the West Midlands’ manufacturing large scale battery manufacture and expertise and will drive the wider successfully managing the move innovation needed to secure a to electric vehicle (EV) powertrains successful and balanced transition to across the full range of transport new mobility solutions, the manufacture modes and supply chains. of batteries, connected autonomous Connecting all communities of the ``building the optimum environment ``building on its existing partnership vehicles and electric vehicle powertrain West Midlands to High Speed 2 for additional foreign direct that has supported the development components, for example, at firms such as Westfield in Dudley, ZF This cluster of skills, sectors and investment and electric vehicle of the West Midlands High Speed 2 assets is matched with significant manufacturing. This will include Growth Strategy, the government Lemforder in Darlaston and Teepee Electrical in Bloxwich (Walsall). and locally agreed plans to upgrade completing the development of will work in partnership with public transport infrastructure the UK Battery Industrialisation the West Midlands to maximise Business and university through High Speed 2, suburban Centre and maximising the impact the benefits that High Speed partnerships embedding digital rail, trams and smart buses. This of funding from the Faraday 2 will bring to the region. and creative techniques will maximise the opportunity for Battery Challenge; and The West Midlands has global research Transport for West Midlands to and business strengths in digital and transform customers’ experience of ultra-light rail, logistics, the largest travelling around the West Midlands connected autonomous vehicles (CAV) and wider UK, improving connectivity testbed ‘Midlands Future Mobility’ to jobs and skills opportunities. and the leading specialist CAV vehicle Wider work through the Midlands manufacturers in Westfield and RDM. Connect partnership will enhance connectivity across the Midlands.

18 19 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Opportunities

The future success of the West ``continuing to develop a clean, Midlands lies in the ability to integrated transport network, influence and adapt to long-term maximising the opportunities trends in mobility. These include: presented by High Speed 2, optimising ``creating new markets, such as the value of the Transforming those in electric and connected Cities Fund and other locally autonomous vehicles (CAV) and led investments and working mobility as a service, through smartly with Midlands Connect. the Future Mobility Zone; The size of the potential prize is ``stimulating further innovation in truly significant. CAV alone is worth key areas such as battery research between £50 and £100bn to the UK and manufacturing, 5G, and economy and an integrated transport data, with benefits to the supply network and arrival of High Speed 2 chain and whole economy; could add £4bn to the West Midlands’ economy, driving major centres of ``taking advantage of growing global growth such as UK Central Solihull. markets in very light rail, digital rail and electric and autonomous flight, in firms of all sizes; and The national Industrial Strategy has backed over 200 companies £20m Creating new markets working in consortia on 90 world- leading projects on self-driving and to establish the UK’s first connected technologies. As part of this Future Mobility Zone between Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry. Electric vehicles The West Midlands will continue to commitment, the West Midlands aims Business and university partnerships establish enabling infrastructure to to deploy the first fully operational will embed digital and creative support the development of local CAV in the West Midlands in advance £50m expertise in electric vehicle design charging and energy transmission of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. into 5G trials in Birmingham, and manufacturing and support the systems for electric vehicles Between now and then, the region Coventry and , development of new supply chains. across the region to enable the will be testing progress on a network awarding West Midlands preferred For example, ’s future market, with location and of over 50 miles of roads in Coventry, partner status as part of the Urban National Transport Design Centre approach driven by demand. Birmingham and Solihull. This area Connected Communities scheme. and the Advanced Manufacturing and Connected autonomous is now a globally leading ‘real world’ Engineering Institute provide industry- vehicles (CAV) UK testbed for developing the next ready graduates and research in electric generation CAVs following over vehicle and powertrain technologies. CAVs could form the majority of cars £50m of recent investment from on the roads in 15 years, with truly government and the private sector. self-driving vehicle trials for the public due to begin in the UK in 2021.

20 21 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Stimulate further innovation Develop a 21st Century transport system

Battery research and development Deploying mobility technology Future mobility and developing Develop an integrated transport Partners will complete the development into other sectors mobility as a service system in the West Midlands of the UK Battery Industrialisation Innovation and manufacturing Build on the £20m Future of Mobility Continue a significant programme of Centre, part of the Faraday Battery expertise will be applied to West Zone government investment, transport investment to develop an Challenge, and consider local options to Midlands supply chain firms at all together with £80m locally, to integrated, clean, multi modal system enhance its specifications and energy tiers, through new demonstrator and support the development of the linked to the locally led High Speed 2 supply. Collaboration between local support programmes. For example, underlying systems capability to Growth Strategy. This will improve air public and private sector partners stimulating innovation in connected create an environment to deploy new quality and directly address productivity will continue to build the optimum mobility will underpin a new approach mobility services. Building the robust challenges by connecting people to new environment for additional foreign to distributed, connected factories digital information layer required to job opportunities and skills provision, direct investment to accelerate and supply chains with significant increase journey predictability will be improving access to healthcare and battery development and production. gains for the wider UK economy and critical. This will be tested in the UK’s green space. It will also be integrated This includes local work to build on local supply chains across the region first Future Mobility Zone between with the 5G network to drive a new the West Midlands’ plans to develop and wider Midlands Engine area. Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry. traveller-centric system and approach. a local case for a Gigafactory. Technology innovation and testing Locally led commitments There are plans to build on government and local investment of up to £50m for ``To make the West Midlands a ``To reduce congestion and journey the UK’s first large-scale 5G testbed UK hub for battery research, times through significant ongoing to enable a new approach to real-time development and manufacturing; investment in clean, low emission data and user management across ``To have the highest electric public transport ensuring that every the whole transport system. This part of the West Midlands is close includes integration with CAV design, vehicle adoption and CAV share of vehicle use anywhere in the UK. to local and national opportunities testing and operation. Collaboration – and the rest of the world – via with other 5G testbeds, including ``To be the national centre for air, road, rail and digital at UK Worcester Manufacturing and the CAV, electric motor manufacture Central’s international gateway. Midlands Engine 5G project, will and supply chains for the full deliver productivity improvements range of electric vehicles; and The following map shows the spatial for the wider supply chain. distribution of the opportunity.

22 23 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy Data-driven healthcare and life sciences

The West Midlands’ aim is to become a centre for testing and proving health innovation and commercialisation, working in partnership with businesses and patients across the region to deliver improved health outcomes, clinical care and business growth. The global market for testing to become a centre for testing and and proving new devices and proving health innovation. In doing techniques is changing so, it will help underpin the wider Artificial intelligence (AI) and large data delivery of the government’s Life techniques are driving new approaches Sciences Industrial Strategy. to healthcare. The increasing use of In particular, the development and data and new technologies to enable translational medicine strengths of the patient stratification and improved West Midlands healthcare innovation targeting of healthcare interventions ecosystem position it well to help is allowing innovations from across meet the government’s national different sectors to be applied to the mission ‘to transform the prevention, patient. New entrants and established early diagnosis and treatment of firms across the full range of health diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart and life sciences are driving new and disease and dementia by 2030.’ innovative approaches. There is a critical need to de-risk innovations in The West Midlands’ track-record diagnostics, software and devices. The UK has established clusters that lead the world in healthcare The UK’s ability to respond and adopt and medicine discovery and new approaches within its healthcare research. The West Midlands has system will be crucial to shaping strengths which complement these these future markets. And testing and as a centre for testing and proving evaluation in a relevant real-world new innovations, approaches and environment will be vital if the UK is their commercial application. to commercialise these opportunities to their fullest extent and maximise The West Midlands has developed an benefits to health outcomes. integrated eco-system to translate new innovations into patient care at With its distinctive culture, pace and scale. The West Midlands infrastructure and environment, has a track-record in working the West Midlands is well-equipped

24 25 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy with patients and their data and facilities and expertise across all of the West Midlands’ translational innovations to over 20 million patients; making sure that value is returned six universities and brings together offer is the cluster centred on the ``ability to speed up and de-risk to the patient, the wider NHS and the region’s NHS trusts through Queen Elizabeth and Birmingham translation. Strong partnerships to the region’s businesses. the West Midlands Academic Women’s Hospitals and University of between businesses, universities The West Midlands possesses Health Sciences Network. Birmingham campus and the Institute and the regional NHS underpin the nationally-recognised strengths To build on this partnership working, of Translational Medicine, including a West Midlands’ ability to support the in healthcare data informatics, government will support: locally led proposal for the Birmingham rapid adoption of new technologies; systems and digitalisation of health Life Science Park development. These ``the development of a locally led ``real-world and diverse environment care services. These are aligned to have the potential to deliver the full West Midlands ‘Translational range of facilities needed for the testing coupled with the regulatory strengths in genomics medicine and Med-Tech Commission’ bringing innovation. This ensures the diagnostics, medical technologies development, validation and real-world together national and local public testing of new healthcare innovations. ability to scale innovations evaluation and clinical trials. Home to leaders, government, universities, nationally and internationally; the largest NHS England Genomics The West Midlands’ entrepreneurs and start-ups, and ``required technical, leadership Laboratory Hub, the Genomics building on the strengths of the distinctive strengths Medicine Centre has been the largest and entrepreneurial skills within West Midlands life sciences cluster, Crucially, the region’s offer and contributor to the 100,000 Genomes the region. The West Midlands underpinned by robust evidence. This expertise are complementary and programme. The West Midlands possesses the largest teaching will advise on the development of distinctive to other UK clusters in also leads the Health Data Research hospital in the country and high a locally led roadmap to accelerate providing the: quality relevant graduate training UK Midlands Site, the Midlands and commercialisation around the ``co-located translational environment at other universities; and Advanced Therapies Treatment region’s ‘lab to patient’ ecosystem. Centre and has four regional NHS and access to a diverse population. ``Integrating and testing 5G England Global Digital Exemplars. In addition: The West Midlands is able to reach technology in healthcare with the six million patients across 17 regional These strengths are underpinned ``the Department for International University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trusts. The West Midlands by other significant national, Trade and local partners will continue playing a leading role. Genomic Medicine Centre’s connected competitively-won investments, to support the West Midlands’ data systems have the ability to scale including over £30m of Innovate UK international investment offer in funding in the last two years. These healthcare technologies through the have been integrated to provide the existing Midlands Engine Trade and translational environment to develop Investment Programme Board. the testing, evaluation, validation This will explore opportunities and application of new technologies in international markets for new from other UK and global clusters. therapies, devices and techniques, to drive business growth through The West Midlands has also forged increased commercialisation partnerships for long-term success. of healthcare technologies. Birmingham Health Partners – a strategic alliance between the The West Midlands is working to align and two academic, NHS and industry capabilities NHS foundation trusts – sustains this across the West Midlands, based integrated translational medicine on a shared mission to break down system across the region. It connects sector boundaries and create stronger partnerships with patients. At the core

26 27 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Opportunities

Improving the health Enabling innovation Nationally recognised of the population and realising value strengths in: The West Midlands’ approach to The West Midlands will build on recent, supporting innovation will be anchored competitively won investments of ``Genomics medicine in partnership with the NHS and the over £150m across the Birmingham and diagnostics patient population. Through this Health Partners campus. By leveraging ``Clinical trials approach, the West Midlands aims to existing translational infrastructure translate healthcare innovation and and expertise across the regional ``Medical technologies 400 life science businesses in the WMCA area and around commercialisation directly into better health partnership, the West Midlands evaluation and healthcare health outcomes for citizens across the 11,000 employees, generating aims to establish itself as a flagship data informatics and systems region. Addressing the critical health approximately £4bn turnover location for the development, validation ``Digitisation of challenges of the population, the West and real-world testing to adoption of healthcare services Midlands will drive new innovations healthcare innovation. This includes the based on clinical need and tested in locally led proposal for the Birmingham an enabled and inter-connected real- Life Sciences Park development. world environment. This will include developing new approaches to using Developing the future workforce technology to drive prevention and This eco-system will nurture employment Strong innovation ecosystem increase investment in preventative and enterprise opportunities for local including translational services, creating opportunities for communities across health and life SMEs and social enterprise, alongside partnerships and facilities sciences and encourage the flow of improved health outcomes. and a network of science techniques and skills from technology Industry strengths and global parks, specialist incubators Developing the West and advanced manufacturing sectors. competitiveness for FDI in and innovation support Midlands’ cluster The West Midlands will deliver new programmes from entrepreneurship high tech medical devices National and global firms see the to technology leadership, in order R&D and manufacture commercial opportunity in the region. to provide the workforce with the The West Midlands has a growing cluster required skills to deliver the leadership of both large and small firms and an required to enable commercialisation associated supply chain which has raised and adoption of new healthcare at least £35m of investment in the last innovations. This will also train a cadre Strong supply of graduate 12 months. It will continue to invest in Strength of clinical and the business support and networks of new skilled workers who can best talent with three medical academic centres of excellence needed to drive cluster development exploit the opportunities provided by schools in the region including the Queen Elizabeth across the region. Further significant technological innovation to reduce the hospital site which is one private sector investment will underpin burden and improve the outcomes of the largest in Europe the region’s offer as the UK centre for of new healthcare interventions. testing and proving health innovation. The following map shows the spatial The West Midlands’ aim is that firms distribution of the opportunity. will be able to access the full spectrum of support needed to develop and commercialise new health innovations.

28 29 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy Modern services

The West Midlands is driving innovation and demand through a ‘full modern services’ offer that benefits the wider local economy, including highly paid, highly skilled roles for all communities. Technology and the move to New working patterns are emerging services is driving innovation and whereby core professional services demand across many sectors firms are encouraging and supporting The global trend towards services professionals to take on dual roles and the innovative use of business, in firms in other sectors. Talented finance and professional service people with the right experience, skills is increasingly important for networks and ability to innovate in the long-term growth and success these areas are in strong demand of firms in all sectors and to the across all parts of the economy and vitality of local economies. supply chains. New working patterns, lifestyle choices and flexible business Existing business and professional models are increasingly driving cross- services firms across the West Midlands sector approaches. The West Midlands region, nationally and globally will is ambitious in being proactive in need to adapt to and adopt new building on the success that firms technology, new processes, products have had in increasing employment and services. Firms in all sectors are from our diverse communities. rapidly changing their commercial models and skill sets to shift to a more Growing connectivity, service-based business model. Put output and workforce simply, the relationships and value- The core ‘full modern service’ creating opportunities between core strengths of the West Midlands are business and professional services clustered in Birmingham, Coventry and firms and other sectors will become Warwickshire. Internationally esteemed increasingly sophisticated. The West business schools at Warwick, Midlands aims to continue to position and Birmingham have more business itself at the forefront of this transition. students than any other location Evidence locally suggests that outside London and the South East. highly trained accountants and other professionals moving into different tiers of manufacturing companies is common.

30 31 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

The West Midlands provides the largest across a wider range of sectors. The Advanced Services Group at Aston Master Plan, aims to increase the West ‘full service’ offer outside London, with Many larger construction firms, for Business School is a globally recognised Midlands’ attractiveness to high value a highly distributed global client base. example, now have many hundreds centre of research excellence on business and professional services. It is home to all modern services apart of business service roles each in servitization, providing cutting edge Rapid expansion of different types from high-end financial management. the West Midlands. There is a major support to over 150 business from of high-quality housing, high grade Most nationally significant firms have opportunity to continue to develop SMEs to global companies such as employment spaces and improved a full-service team operating locally. and foster innovative partnerships and Goodyear, Ishida and Nederman with connectivity within the region will do Companies have cited the availability links between firms and education the transition to advanced services. the same. The West Midlands will also and loyalty of skilled talent, the institutions, such as the forthcoming aim to continue to secure significant Application of new additional private investment. choice of locations, office space and National Brownfield Institute at the technologies and 5G attractiveness of the place to retain University of Wolverhampton. The West Changes for which the West Midlands Centre for fast growth, highly talent, as strong drivers of future Midlands aims to continue opening is well placed to take advantage productive business services growth. Birmingham has high and up job opportunities to communities include AI, automation, cyber security The demand for business services growing levels of graduate retention. that may not otherwise see them as and machine learning. With small skills across all sectors will drive overall accessible and ensuring the availability This growth is driven partly by the technology firms, regionally embedded growth and wider productivity gains. of the technical skills that continue to region’s distinctive distribution larger firms and expertise in the The West Midlands will continue to be in high demand. The West Midlands of business and professional universities, the West Midlands is a maintain and expand its position as a is ambitious in being proactive in occupations, which tend to be testbed for business innovation to centre for full modern services. Central building on the success that firms highly-skilled. The West Midlands is access and embed new applications to this will be continued investment have had in increasing employment also home to an increasing number and techniques, helping core business across the whole regional economy, from our diverse communities. of senior business services roles services firms and wider sectors including in its low emission, integrated deliver next generation services locally, transport system; housing; partnerships Opportunities nationally and globally. The West between universities and businesses; Midlands’ 5G network will create new and wider regional skills system. markets and lead to new services. The West Midlands will design locally Significantly higher than underrepresented communities access Improving transport led peer-to-peer networks to support these highly skilled and well paid roles. average expected GVA growth infrastructure to attract talent and improve the productivity of local and new, highly skilled jobs firms and bring together professional Driving business performance The West Midlands is already well business services to provide a visible Total business, professional and across all sectors connected. HS2 will build on this. financial services GVA is forecast and trusted offer to local firms. Both The West Midlands is seeing the Further expansion of Birmingham to double to £50bn between 2015- of these will build on findings and increased application and use of Airport, through delivery of its 2030, with growth forecast across all approaches set out in the forthcoming professional business services skills locally led Airport Master Plan, parts of the sector. Employment is Business Productivity Review. across different parts of the economy. aims to increase the West Midlands’ currently 400,000 and is expected The West Midlands Regional Skills attractiveness to high value business The following map shows the spatial to grow, with job numbers also rising Strategy aims to ensure the long- and professional services. Further distribution of the opportunity. significantly outside the core sector. term availability of a distinctive, expansion of Birmingham Airport, Graduates in relevant disciplines skilled labour pool and strong talent through delivery of its locally led Airport from local universities are in high pipeline of graduates and school demand nationally, commanding a leavers into business services role. salary premium. This provides the opportunity to ensure local people from

32 33 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy Creative content, techniques and technologies

The West Midlands is growing its core creative industries and creative design skills and techniques as part of the transformation of products, processes and services. Creative skills and techniques are development access for digital and driving innovation in all industries creative firms and innovators. Factories of the future will be The West Midlands as a constructed by designers, data analysts centre of creative design, and visualisation specialists, powered making and business by 5G connectivity and involve the rapid design, build and deployment The West Midlands has a long history of virtual and physical components. of creative business success, from These approaches, such as a the earliest development of industrial ‘distributed factory’, will be developed design and processing techniques, and adopted in the West Midlands, to 90,000 creative jobs today. A as our manufacturing and transport major feature of the economy is supply chains evolve for the future. the extent to which the creative communities are engaged in both Creative content and products the core creative industries and in continue to evolve and develop new using creative and design skills and techniques and new markets. The 2021 techniques in the transformation of Coventry City of Culture and 2022 products, processes and services in a Commonwealth Games will provide wide range of future global markets. significant opportunities to develop and showcase new, creative and digitally- The West Midlands’ core creative led approaches to resident and visitor industries have strengths in next services and experiences, with the generation creative and commercial Commonwealth Games venues acting content creation and as a production as real-life testbeds and demonstrators centre for higher budget content. for new products and services. 5G Demand is driving investment in new connectivity will enable new platforms high value TV and film production for content, information and services, capacity and a proposed Media Campus creating new market opportunities, with at the National Exhibition Centre. a new “plug and play” 5G accelerator providing rapid product and process

34 35 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Population growth and new devices ``VR and superfast connectivity are driving increased demand from are being used to train the next Opportunities consumers for creative experiences, generation of paramedics, engineers such as theatre, performance and and surgeons in environments that The West Midlands has the skills, programme within the gaming live music, which are stimulating the are as close to real life as possible; firms, innovative supply chains and sector in Leamington Spa. market for the region’s cultural offer. ``modular construction of high quality, assets needed to take advantage of However, the creative economy is about In Greater Birmingham and Solihull low energy homes begins with global growth in this creative future for far more than just the strengths in alone, nearly 60 per cent of design jobs design-led solutions to components content, techniques and technologies creative industries. The evidence shows are outside core creative industries and build. Modular construction is across all the region’s sectors and sub that Birmingham and Solihull alone with creative skills driving innovation estimated to be worth £2-3bn per sectors. With a core sector generating have the potential to add nearly 4,000 in a wide range of industries. The area year in the UK, with modular build over £4bn of GVA through 10,000 new creative enterprises and 30,000 in and around Leamington is dubbed growing by 25 per cent per year; firms and 10 per cent of the UK games new related jobs with the opportunity ‘Silicon Spa’ for the nationally significant ``design-led production of new industry based in Silicon Spa. To to scale this across the West Midlands. concentration of gaming companies components and diversification support this the government will; with increasing crossovers with other The following map shows the spatial into new markets, often with ``maximise the opportunities arising sectors. The following examples distribution of the opportunity. cross-sector impacts; and from the Department of International show a very distinctive hallmark Trade’s High Potential Opportunity of the West Midlands economy: ``increasing digitisation of services and innovation within culture and ``design-led thinking originating in the media to develop new ways of gaming industry is combined with engaging ‘audiences of the future’. virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to develop, prototype and test new vehicles across automotive, aerospace, rail and last mile logistics as well as the wider digital manufacturing sector; ``creative techniques for visualising and manipulating large and complex data sets are driving new approaches to healthcare, personal finance and insurance services, mobility, tourism and culture, and retail environments;

36 37 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy An inclusive, clean and resilient economy

The West Midlands is committed to driving a more inclusive economy: connecting more of its people with economic opportunities; improving employment and progression; enhancing the environment; increasing wellbeing; and maximising the potential and success of our diverse population. The West Midlands’ current suite of The West Midlands Combined Authority devolved powers, combined with an has agreed to develop a local ‘Single economy of renaissance, offers the Commissioning Framework’ to guide region a real opportunity to make decision-making on specific, existing inclusive growth happen. The West housing and land investment funds. Midlands has agreed a set of indicators The aim of this is to ensure these and targets that include health and existing, local investments make wider social outcomes and is committed the maximum contribution to the to putting these at the heart of local broad set of outcomes as agreed decision making processes. Local by the Combined Authority. powers and flexibility mean that The West Midlands is committed to interventions can be designed, tested setting out more detailed actions in and implemented based on the needs a West Midlands Inclusive Economy of local people, businesses and places Plan and will locally continue investing — including recognising the specific and in the capacity needed to ensure different challenges facing cities, towns that all strands of this strategy are and rural areas and the potential for delivering the wider social impacts social enterprise to help deliver smarter, that reflect local partners’ ambitions. targeted and inclusive approaches. Local partners are determined By designing actions and investments to ensure that all residents and using a wide set of indicators, the communities can experience the West Midlands will ensure that the benefits of rising prosperity. This commitments at the heart of this commitment is supported by strategy will enable businesses, a independent commissions on leadership broad range of public partners, and and productivity, which concluded that the civil society sector to make the the region will be most successful if West Midlands more inclusive. it benefits from the creativity, talent and ideas in all its communities.

38 39 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

The opportunity is to build from the The West Midlands has identified action in this Local Industrial Strategy, priority issues on which to develop harnessing the potential of a young and test new approaches through and growing population to act boldly a new Inclusive Growth Unit led where the region has the levers to and funded by the West Midlands do so. Partners will seek to pilot new Combined Authority. It aims to initiatives designed to deliver more blend analysis, policy advice and inclusive growth. These will build practical action to achieve results. on existing projects such as ‘Thrive It has established the Inclusive Growth West Midlands’, which is working Framework and Inclusive Growth with several hundred businesses and Toolkit, both of which continue to evolve thousands of employees to improve and be refined, and will be used in awareness of workplace mental health. developing actions and monitoring the Raising the living standards of all West delivery of wider social, environmental Midlands’ residents and addressing and economic outcomes, including the low productivity, low pay cycle that this Local Industrial Strategy. some residents experience requires an The West Midlands has identified integrated response across multiple priority issues on which to develop policy areas. The West Midlands has and test new approaches: a unique opportunity to do things differently. Partners across the region ``low pay sectors: exploring ``commissioning and procurement: develop wellbeing and productivity; will implement a West Midlands labour supply and demand, and maximising local value, local supply approach in piloting, experimenting and locally adapted and targeted ``youth unemployment: developing chains, local skills development and a fresh new approach by targeting evaluating what works in the region. training and skills, meeting local local ownership in infrastructure needs with local innovation and particular groups with tailored For example, the West Midlands is projects. This includes High Speed 2, interventions, including working exploring new local approaches City of Culture and Commonwealth working with the NHS, government to support those in low pay; with young people through the and national partners to continue Games related procurement; Transition to Work scheme to strengthening early intervention and ``in-work progression: increasing ``diversity: on which the Combined create a sustainable pipeline of preventative services. These will be the support available to people Authority and partners can lead young talent in the region; focused on targeted interventions to to access in-work progression by example to promote diversity boost innovation in prevention against opportunities, including through ``social enterprises: diversifying the and increase the employment types of economic activity available some of the most pressing public encouraging more flexible approaches rate of ethnic minorities by health issues. This will leverage the to working patterns and childcare. to create opportunities and improve implementing the Leadership wellbeing and productivity for people region’s 5G status and the convening This will be particularly focused on Commission’s recommendations; role of the West Midlands Combined employers and residents working and communities. This will include Authority to bring digital innovation in historically lower paying sectors, ``bespoke solutions for individuals: committing to growing the size of into the system in response to some of where technological change will focusing on mental and physical the social economy within the West our critical demand pressures. Better open up new, higher skilled roles; health, and barriers to work alongside Midlands; exploring a regional and/ services will deliver better health the wider determinants of wellbeing. or mayoral financing mechanism to ``encouraging and supporting Coventry and Warwickshire will run support this (such as a regional social outcomes and a more innovative care women into sectors which women system will create economic benefits. a Year of Wellbeing in 2019 driven enterprise bank or social investment are currently underrepresented; by the European City of Sport and fund) and the drawing together

40 41 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

of support mechanisms for social and is integrating the environment enterprise start-up and scaling; and into all its decision-making. Ideas ``vulnerability: prioritising mental The West Midlands will: health and complex needs. Delivering ``seek to use innovative solutions The West Midlands aims to drive up levels of business innovation a number of interventions via the to address urban challenges West Midlands Combined Authority like air quality, flood water and the commercialisation of research and development, targeting and other partners, this work will management, overheating in varying needs in different parts of the region, working in partnership focus on relationships between urban areas and climate change with government, the Midlands Engine and internationally. vulnerability, wellbeing and work. adaptation. We will ‘green’ existing These will include interventions such The West Midlands is underpinned by There are many instances of small- transport routes and improve a sophisticated innovation ecosystem. scale commercial research and as Individual Placement Support access for walking and cycling; trials (developed with DWP’s Work It is a UK manufacturing heartland, process innovation by firms in and Health Unit), Thrive at Work, ``remain committed to developing grounded in history as the place supply chains which find it difficult to and partnerships with Public Health a long-term plan for Natural where the first industrial revolution engage with the wider ecosystem. England, the West Midlands Fire Capital and to the principle of an was commercialised. The West The West Midlands needs to increase Service, and annual net gain for natural capital, Midlands’ mix of universities, anchor business capacity to adopt new the Office of the Police and Crime developing the tools that enable companies, research and development techniques and technologies — such Commissioner focused on prevention. us to work towards reversing the facilities, knowledge networks as Industrial Digital Technologies current trend in biodiversity loss; and skilled workforce provides the championed by the Made Smarter Natural capital foundations of 21st century industry. ``improve air quality through a West Commission — and improve local The strategic opportunities and actions Midlands Combined Authority At the same time, the West Midlands’ diffusion between frontier firms and set out in this strategy will ensure the led Low Emissions Strategy and productivity gap is in large part an universities into wider supply chains. West Midlands makes a significant innovation gap; around 40 per cent Action Plan. This aims to improve Research contribution to the UK’s clean growth health and wellbeing and provide of the output gap between the West goals, while continuing to improve the new clean growth opportunities Midlands and the UK average is due to The West Midlands is home to a range local environment. The West Midlands including working with the private weaker performance in competition, of universities, consistently ranked in is home to highly productive low carbon sector, the region will accelerate investment, enterprise and innovation. the top 20 nationally for the quality of and environmental technology firms, at their blue skies and applied research. charging infrastructure for zero Business demand and capacity the forefront of responding to changes emission vehicles across the Knowledge from these institutions in mobility, services and manufacturing region, driven by demand; and Overcoming barriers to business spills over into industry through processes. This Local Industrial innovation, driving up business commercially-engaged academics, Strategy reflects the West Midlands’ ``continue to reduce carbon emissions demand and improving capacity to science parks, incubators and the view that the effective stewardship while driving productivity to meet the absorb new approaches will be crucial largest concentration of accelerators of natural capital is fundamental to current targets, through the actions to closing this gap. While the West in the country. The West Midlands also long-term social and economic goals. in this strategy. The West Midlands is Midlands hosts excellent university hosts two of the UK’s strategically working with other global cities and The West Midlands is committed to research and innovative businesses, the important High Value Manufacturing the UK Climate Change Committee to Science and Innovation Audit shows and Energy Systems Catapults. celebrating and improving the high- review goals over the course of 2019. quality natural environment, public there are still too many businesses spaces and biodiversity that make that are innovation inactive. the region a great place to succeed

42 43 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

These research strengths are central to The West Midlands West Midlands firms are at the Working in partnership with the West Midlands’ overall productivity innovation system forefront of innovation across as well government, the West Midlands will help effort; helping create new technologies, The West Midlands innovation as within sectors. The West Midlands to build the optimum environment for solutions and business models to ecosystem is defined by three core has also put in place innovative foreign direct investment and electric address the strategic opportunities set strengths. First, its diverse, cross- programmes to enhance the transfer vehicle manufacturing. This will include out in this Local Industrial Strategy. cutting research and innovation of skills and techniques between the completing the development of the UK For example, WMG and the Advanced base. The West Midlands brings creative industries and other sectors. Battery Industrialisation Centre and Propulsion Centre will be central to together a range of sectors, services The four opportunities identified in maximising the impact of £80m of the West Midlands’ ambition to be a and technologies together in a this Local Industrial Strategy have funding from the Faraday Challenge. global hub for battery research and single place. The capabilities in a strong relationship with the West Finally, the West Midlands is home development, while the Birmingham research and development, design Midlands’ research and innovation to dense innovation networks and Institute of Translational Medicine (ITM) and production span multiple strengths and provide a chance to clusters. Innovation takes place will be at the core of the approach to industries, including advanced drive up cross-sectoral innovation. across the region, but it is also highly data-driven healthcare. This impact will manufacturing and engineering, Second, the West Midlands is an concentrated in clusters of original only be maximised if the extent and next-generation transport systems, engine of private sector research engineering manufacturers, universities pace at which research is translated data-driven healthcare technologies, and development. Businesses across and firms in strategic sectors. into business and markets is improved. energy generation and storage, and the West Midlands invested £2.3bn These can be found in: Birmingham, data and systems integration. in R&D in 2016, representing 10 per Coventry and Wolverhampton city cent of all UK Business Enterprise centres; ’s life sciences expenditure on R&D (BERD) and cluster; the area surrounding making it the 4th highest region in Birmingham Airport; the automotive the UK. Overall R&D investment is on and future mobility cluster around the rise. The West Midlands performs Coventry and Warwickshire; and above average in Innovate UK funding Leamington Spa’s ‘Silicon Spa’ cluster awards, though there are spatial of computer game companies. variations, primarily driven by the This is underpinned by significant nature of the region’s business base. physical infrastructure. Universities, The West Midlands is a leader in R&D developers and the public sector have intensive industries such as automotive invested across the West Midlands. The — with Europe’s largest automotive region’s accelerators, incubators and R&D facility in the National Automotive translational research centres bring Innovation Campus at the University together established companies, start- of Warwick — which as a sector has ups and research expertise to turn played an increasingly important ideas into new products and services. role in driving UK business R&D. The West Midlands will play a strong role in delivering the Industrial Strategy’s target of increasing UK R&D investment to 2.4 per cent of GDP by 2027.

44 45 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

The West Midlands also has strong The region also has significant links The West Midlands’ approach: strengthening business innovation partnerships, such as Innovation with businesses, universities and The West Midlands’ priority is to drive ``talent: equipping high growth potential Alliance West Midlands and the West investors abroad. For example, West up levels of demand-led business businesses with the skills needed Midlands Academic Health Science Midlands universities have established innovation across all areas of the region, to innovate, through programmes Network, that bring universities and collaborations with peers in China, by deepening innovation networks and in universities, catapults and other public sector organisations the USA, India, Brazil and other supporting improvements to business technology innovation networks; together to drive innovation. Together international markets. The West capacity. The West Midlands will ensure ``intelligence: creating a foresight these assets and networks will Midlands will deepen these links through the availability of both space and continue to be the pillars of the West leveraging the Midlands Engine brand programme to generate new finance for innovation, encourage cross- ideas and promote awareness Midlands’ innovation ecosystem. to attract investment and identifying sectoral innovation, and deepen the innovations to scale internationally — of latest market demand from West Midlands businesses and business-led and peer-to-peer networks large firms and the public sector universities are linked into innovation for instance in translational medicine that evidence shows are most effective and data-driven healthcare. for innovative SMEs as well as chains across the wider Midlands in helping firms innovate. The West technology drivers of change; and Engine. The West Midlands will Midlands will encourage businesses of continue to support collaboration all sizes and sectors to innovate and ``culture: creating opportunities to at the Midlands Engine level. support collaborative working to make showcase the impact and importance it easier for businesses to access R&D of innovation across the West assets and new support programmes. Midlands’ public and private sectors. The West Midlands is developing a This approach will be taken forward STEAMhouse case study locally led Innovation Framework and by a set of targeted, high-impact new programmes to drive a region- interventions, which will complement STEAMhouse is a co-working space workshops, access to product wide approach to innovation. This national-level interventions by for businesses, artists and academics development facilities, partnership will prioritise the five core pillars of UKRI and others, including: designed to enable small companies working and SME grant-making. The an effective innovation ecosystem: ``using planned procurement of capital and artists to work together on first phase of STEAMhouse launched ``networks and linkages: investment in infrastructure and new projects and business ideas. in spring 2018 and will engage with supporting business networks housing to drive business innovation; There are facilities such as 3D at least 200 SMEs in the Greater and programmes to join up R&D printers, laser cutting machinery, Birmingham Solihull Local Enterprise ``ensuring wrap-around business assets and entrepreneurs, and virtual reality and printing studios. Partnership (GBSLEP) area over support with innovation help identify the opportunities a three-year period. The second and R&D at its centre; STEAMhouse will drive innovation for collaboration across sectors, phase of STEAMhouse is already and research to create business technologies and supply chains; ``integrating the approaches solutions that fuel long-term in development with construction described above into a new locally ``investment programmes: creating economic growth through a due to commence in spring 2019. led Productivity Factory, acting new support programmes integrated combination of industry-led as an access point for peer-to- with local supply chains, including peer mentoring and repayable crucial Tier 2 and Tier 3 firms through grants for project design and demonstrator projects, supporting implementation; and broad and accessible investment and access to a good supply of appropriate finance products on attractive terms;

46 47 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

``sharing and developing intellectual creates and attracts better paid Innovation assets and jobs (2016) property (IP) for collaborative and more highly-skilled jobs. But innovation and considering where the West Midlands will not limit its IP finance can improve access to efforts to boost business innovation finance for innovative companies. to the most productive businesses, The West Midlands will consider, technologies or sub-regions. where appropriate, how the The West Midlands Local Industrial opportunities identified in the Local Strategy commits to encouraging a Industrial Strategy could provide broader and more inclusive approach an organising framework for bids to innovation policy that helps SMEs by local partners into the Strength move into new markets and supply in Places Fund and other national chains, focuses on addressing societal competitive funds delivered by and environmental challenges, UK Research and Innovation. and harnesses the ideas and energy of its young population. Innovation delivering inclusive growth The map on the following page shows the main West A more innovative West Midlands will Midlands innovation assets. be a more productive and competitive business environment that in turn

WMG case study

WMG is one of the world’s leading WMG’s new National Automotive research and innovation groups. Innovation Centre is the largest of Since its inception in 1980, WMG’s its kind in Europe and the product mission has been to improve the of partnership with Jaguar Land competitiveness of organisations Rover and . The through the application of value- centre will focus on automotive adding innovation, new technologies research, combining expertise from and skills deployment, bringing industry, university academics academic rigour to industrial and supply chain companies. It is and organisational practice. intended to support advances in WMG is a pioneer of innovative technology to reduce dependency technology, leading major multi- on fossil fuels and vehicle emissions partner projects to create and while also developing the talent develop new products and processes required for the demands of that can be adopted by organisations. emerging technology. This is in addition to the existing facilities.

48 49 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy People

West Midlands is undergoing a renaissance. The West Midlands has a young and diverse population. Nearly one in three people in the region are under 25. This £3bn makes the West Midlands the youngest lost output through insufficient region in the country outside of London. skills levels Of the 52,000 graduates from the eight universities across the West Midlands, 71 £5.2bn per cent stay on to work in the region. Fewer residents in employment Since 2013, the number of people with higher level skills has increased £6.9bn employment rate is much lower than qualifications or NVQ1 in the country. by 137,800 — faster than the national Weaker performance in for white women. There are similar There is a ‘missing middle’ of technical average. The number of people with no competition, investment, disparities for those with disabilities skills at levels two and three. qualifications is also falling faster than enterprise and innovation and low or no qualifications. the UK average. The West Midlands Less than a third of West Midlands is committed to ensuring that it is a Around 50 per cent of five-year- residents are qualified to NVQ Level place that benefits all its residents. and the economy has missed out old children in the West Midlands 4+. Matching the national average from the potential contribution of do not achieve a good level of will require a further 181,538 people Employment is at record levels and development compared to 34 per cent to be qualified to this level. continues to grow. The employment the wider population. In output terms, this equates to £3bn less nationally. Nearly a third of children Significant elements of these skills rate is growing faster than the UK in the region grow up in poverty as a whole and the West Midlands through lower skills levels and and employment rates relate to £5.2bn through fewer residents in and by Year Six almost a quarter connectivity, with actions described has the lowest number of people are obese. Healthy life expectancy out of work for ten years. employment. Together they account in the relevant section below. But the for 54 per cent of the output gap. is lower than the UK average. challenges go much wider, requiring Benefits of growth Despite the stronger than average The West Midlands also performs targeted labour market interventions But the West Midlands also has employment growth, the West Midlands below the national average on and a focus on the wider determinants concentrations of deprivation, still has one of the lowest employment educational attainment. Spatial of inequality and exclusion. many of which are close to growth rates of any Mayoral Combined analysis highlights a general pattern The devolution of the Adult Education areas. In these communities, social Authority at 71 per cent. It has an of poorer outcomes in the west of Budget represents an opportunity mobility, wage growth and access higher than average unemployment the Combined Authority area and a for the West Midlands to provide to opportunities have persistently rate of 5.7 per cent, with greater more positive picture in the east. more targeted support for local fallen behind neighbouring areas. concentrations in parts of , On basic skills, some 11 per cent of West people and to ensure adult education It also has a growing gender Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Midlands residents had no qualifications provision best meets local need. employment gap that is greater than Black and minority ethnic employment in 2018 compared to eight per cent other combined authority areas. The locally owned Regional Skills rates are 15 per cent lower than nationally, and parts of the Black Plan sets out how this will be done. This means too many people have for white groups. For women from Country have the highest proportion Its delivery is underpinned by the missed out on the benefits of growth, an ethnic minority background the of the working age population with no

50 51 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy historic Skills Deal with the government, established Skills Advisory Panel. The Proportion of residents with NVQ Level 4+ (2016) which could unlock up to £69m to two recently announced Institutes boost digital and technical skills, of Technology will also play a pivotal job opportunities and productivity role in creating a world class technical across the West Midlands. This education offer in the region. work will be informed by the newly

Manufacturing Technology College’s Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Centre case study

A £36m Advanced Manufacturing Apprentices learn the latest Training Centre (AMTC) has been technology in areas such as developed at the Manufacturing intelligent automation, additive Technology Centre in Ansty Park, layer manufacture, robotics, Warwickshire to provide a flagship metrology, mechatronics, computer- facility for advanced apprenticeship aided design and computer-aided programmes. Named as one of the machining. Apprentices will be able UK’s top 100 apprentice employers, to test and develop their skills in courses at AMTC are setting the sponsored placements, including standard as the future of advanced through international assignments manufacturing apprenticeships. with Manufacturing Technology Centre members and supporters.

Connecting Communities case study

The Connecting Communities ‘K heard about the project running Programme is an innovation pilot from the local library and approached funded through the Department for the project accompanied by his Work and Pensions as part of West father. He was very reserved and Midlands Combined Authority’s reluctant to communicate without first devolution deal. A connection support from his father. After with the local community is the building both rapport and trust, it only criterion for the employment was identified that K has autism support provided by the Programme. and finds it difficult to talk to Here is an early example of new people. Through developing how the project is making a real an action plan, we were able to difference, from the perspective of support K towards making the one of the contracted providers: next step into employment.’

52 53 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

A strategy for an inclusive economy and mentor unemployed and ``ensure the successful roll-out disadvantaged young people as they of T-levels across the region by work towards gaining and progressing bringing together networks of Recognising the challenges set actions undertaken across the other in an apprenticeship or other job; and schools, colleges, training providers out above, the West Midlands foundations of productivity detailed ``delivering the Apprenticeship and employers to identify the is committed to hardwiring an in this Local Industrial Strategy. Promise, a commitment to working right pathways and facilities to inclusive approach throughout As well as delivering on the West with local employers to make sure invest in, and providing high- the Local Industrial Strategy. Midlands’ inclusive growth ambitions, an apprenticeship or training place quality industry placements; Partners across the region are the Skills Advisory Board will oversee is available to every young person ``launch the new Digital Skills committed to acting to improve labour market and skills actions in the region that wants one. Partnership to link the accessibility through reforming which support the opportunities region’s existing and emerging public services, transport and digital in this Local Industrial Strategy. Create regional networks of digital offer with national and specialist, technical education sector-based initiatives; infrastructure and flexible approaches The West Midlands’ Regional to working, and through raising and training to help drive ``boost in-work progression for workers Skills Plan sets out five strategic skills and productivity awareness of the jobs and opportunities interventions. Actions most directly in retail, logistics, hospitality and other that are available, particularly for targeting inclusive growth and The West Midlands will address low-paying sectors, including through communities that have historically productivity are summarised: shortages of specific skillsets which the promotion of flexible working and been disconnected from growth. support the region’s strategic carer friendly practices. This will help Working with providers, the West Prepare our young people opportunities. It will boost the support underrepresented groups Midlands will use existing devolved for future life and work uptake of vocational training through including women, for example through powers and funding to deliver a high- The West Midlands’ new approach to apprenticeships, prepare to deliver the evaluation of the gender pay quality and responsive regional skills tackling youth unemployment identifies T-level routes and better match skills and employment gap, and support and education system, to provide the need for individualised support provision to employer needs. retraining for those who are at risk of people with the skills they and across the existing silos in careers, The West Midlands will: losing their job to automation or due businesses need for the future. mental and physical health, travel, to their age or a health condition; and housing, childcare, and others. This ``through the devolved Adult Education Major stakeholders from across the ``through the devolved Adult involves measures to prevent and tackle Budget, increase the volume of public and private sector have come Education Budget, increase the youth unemployment and ensure that qualifications delivered at all levels together to form the West Midlands volume of qualifications delivered young talent is nurtured, including by: and develop flexible models of Skills Advisory Board to oversee the learning to support working adults at all levels and develop flexible development and delivery of our skills ``creating a West Midlands Career to upskill and progress in their models of learning to support plans. This Board will have a key role Hub to enhance the impact of careers, including focussing £10m working adults to upskill and in bringing government and West careers education and advice; of the devolved Adult Education progress in their careers. Midlands partners together to deliver ``extending the Mayor’s Mentors Budget on training for low paid, low To reinforce these local the people-focused aims and actions programme to encourage skilled employees; and using existing commitments, government will; of the Local Industrial Strategy. local budgets to make English as a more young people to access ``support the development of two second language at levels 1, 2 and The Board will act as the Skills regional opportunities; Institutes of Technology (IoT) to 3 in priority places free for adults Advisory Panel (SAP) for the region deliver higher technical education in ``working with the Department for Work who earn the living wage or less. and use SAP analysis to further shape and Pensions to support the testing of the West Midlands. Government will and refine priorities and actions. progression coaches in Birmingham ``create employer-led taskforces work with the Dudley IoT to redevelop This will ensure integration with the and Solihull. The coaches will support and sector action plans for sectors land to provide teaching facilities for delivering key local priorities;

54 55 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

higher level skills programmes. The through access to apprenticeships Department for Education skills deal Greater Birmingham and Solihull IoT pilots in growth sectors and promote will focus on advanced manufacturing apprenticeships in underrepresented and Industry 4.0 through greater sectors to young girls and women. collaboration of further and higher education and creating pathways Deliver inclusive growth by giving from level three to level six more people the skills to get and Up to £5m Hundreds of new sustain good jobs and careers £1m to improve apprenticeships. Both IoTs form a key to work with apprenticeships in careers advice part of the joint ambition to create One of the most direct ways of employers and small and medium sized for young a world class technical education improving inclusivity is through DfE to develop businesses in priority areas people, including system in the West Midlands. good quality employment with a National a new careers the opportunity to progress. Retraining Accelerate the take up of hub in the West The West Midlands will tackle Scheme (NRS) Midlands good-quality apprenticeships low employment and high pilot to drive across the region — double unemployment in specific areas by: adult learning the number by 2030 ``supporting those out of work The West Midlands offers a range of and on low incomes in targeted apprenticeship programmes, which will: communities — starting with the DfE skills deal ``maximise Apprenticeship Levy £4.7m employment support pilot, which could investment for the West Midlands Connecting Communities — to test unlock up to through a regional campaign and learn more about what works; £69m targeting employers, young people, ``providing a new employment employees and key stakeholders to support service for people with a consider apprenticeships; and aims mental health and/or physical health Multi-million to unlock £50m in Apprenticeship condition in primary and community pound Piloting an Levy funding to support more care through the Thrive into Work investment in innovative apprenticeships for SMEs, targeting project. This will shape the roll out local colleges, online portal science, technology, engineering of the Individual Placement Support ensuring they for businesses and mathematics (STEM) skills in model for other cohorts; and have access £1m to boost Edtech to share work priority sectors and supply chains; and the way it supports experience ``delivering £120m+ of investment in to the latest adult learners in the opportunities ``provide a brokerage service to future training and skills provision equipment West Midlands with schools employers to promote apprenticeships through the devolved Adult and facilities as a key tool for workforce Education Budget and £10m of development. These will support them retraining funds, upskilling of low- to identify the best apprenticeship paid and low-skilled residents to programme and training provider bolster their long-term career to meet their business needs; and and earning potential. ``establish a regional pre-apprenticeship and traineeship offer, including

56 57 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Sandwells case study Skills Factory case study

Sandwell’s population is one of the and that residents have access to the The Black Country Skills Factory and education providers to develop a youngest and most diverse in the opportunities and skills needed to is an employer-led education and networked approach to skills delivery: West Midlands and is forecast to help them succeed is a major priority. training collaboration which aims one that is needs-driven by industry to address the shortfall of skills in demand for skills while also meeting continue to expand faster than the Significant investments include the the Black Country and increase general best practice standards. UK average whilst continuing to get metro extension and Commonwealth younger. Employment rates and skills the pipeline of suitably skilled Training and education courses Games Aquatics centre, with plans staff to respond to growth. levels are lower than elsewhere in to maximise access to new jobs and are co-developed and co-delivered the West Midlands, but numbers of commercial opportunities, involving It has been a highly successful project using shared facilities and industry jobs, employment and skills have all local communities. The local authority in addressing skills shortages in the trainers. This results in the provision increased faster than the national have been working with residents advanced manufacturing sector. of bite-sized skills training courses average in recent years, as have and businesses to agree the Sandwell The aspiration is to fundamentally shift which fit the current and future the number of knowledge based, 2030 vision and an inclusive growth the relationship between employers needs of highly technical industries. higher skills roles. With a significant plan to develop new approaches to manufacturing and supply chain base delivery and investment, to maximise productivity is higher than elsewhere the contribution that Sandwell Construction Gateway in the Black Country, but has grown makes to the West Midlands and less than the UK average in recent the benefits this has to residents. years. Ensuring that businesses adapt The Construction Gateway has investment to support this challenge. been established by the Combined The Combined Authority has a £5m Authority in response to major three-year programme to train over Collaboration between partners the overall impact of investment, and projected growth in the demand for to achieve even more collectively accessibility to skills, jobs and business 2,000 new recruits linked to specific construction jobs driven by HS2, major projects. A partnership of The West Midlands works with a broad opportunities for all local people. The local transport investment and West Midlands and local partners will: the Further Education Skills and range of partners to support the skills the Housing Package including the Productivity Group network of agenda and its Skills Advisory Board ``work closely with community-based growing brownfield construction colleges, training providers, Job brings together the key influencers organisations to develop local access cluster in Wolverhampton. This Centres and local authorities will work from across the West Midlands skill and progression pathways; and offers new opportunities for closely with developers to provide a system. Close working relationships develop local learning routeways offsite manufacturing and are supply of recruits across the whole are in place with the further and from compulsory education, all driving demand for skills, range of skills areas and levels. higher education sectors as well particularly in the Black Country. through further, higher, and The emphasis is on providing the as LEPs and local authorities. career development learning. It is crucial the West Midlands ensures training and support needed to Local partners are working together to that local people can access these enable more unemployed and/or develop an approach that will further opportunities so that employers low-waged entrants to develop the looking for skills, or people looking integrate the West Midlands’ investment skills needed to enter and sustain for a job, an apprenticeship or a in transport, skills and services to target employment in the construction move up, know where to go for help specific communities and groups in sector. This will include accreditation and support. The establishment of focused inclusive growth corridors through the Construction an Institute of Technology, led by Skills Certification scheme. or locations. The aim is to improve , will provide vital

58 59 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

``maximising the opportunity of High Continued work on maximising Infrastructure Speed 2 — including the national the opportunities of integrating High Speed Rail College—to create emerging technologies and regional supply chains and the mobility services include: Transport, mobility and digital Actions planned skills to service the network. This ``building on the West Midlands’ includes the wider locally led The West Midlands is a well-connected The West Midlands will build a fully position as the UK’s first large-scale, infrastructure projects, providing region. 90 per cent of UK markets integrated and seamless multi- multi-city 5G test bed, through the dedicated support to businesses; are no more than a four-hour drive modal transport system across Urban Connected Communities away. It has one of the UK’s fastest the whole region. This means: ``continuing to support the develop Project. This is the next step in of the locally led High Speed 2 the government’s 5G Testbed and growing airports and High Speed 2 ``maximising the impact of the Growth Strategy. This includes Trials Programme, and will develop will put the centre of Birmingham £322m Transforming Cities Fund, developing the Curzon Masterplan, a large-scale, 5G pilot across the within 50 minutes of central London. by extending the Metro system, the Interchange station in Solihull region, with hubs in Birmingham, Recent growth has put the existing including the East-West Metro and other transport schemes. This Coventry and Wolverhampton; and transport system under pressure, extension to Dudley/Brierley Hill. will connect High Speed 2 stations leading to poor air quality and Local plans are also advanced ``building on the transport innovation to local transport networks and costly congestion. There is an over- towards extending further from East programme, including the communities, including rural areas; reliance on the road network and Birmingham to North Solihull and the Meridian programmes, and Future private transport. Only 41 per cent of High Speed 2 Interchange station; ``setting out plans to develop Mobility Zone as an integrated inclusive growth corridors. This will innovation and R&D system, residents can access three or more ``creating a new integrated control ensure infrastructure is integrated attracting global investment. strategic centres by public transport centre to deliver the smartest streets with other programmes locally to within 45 minutes at peak times, and best managed network and maximise impact on employment making physical access to jobs and reduce congestion. This will be key and skills, high quality housing and skills an issue for too many people. during High Speed 2 construction and development viability and improved Many of the more rural areas continue in anticipation of major events such public green space and air quality; to face transport challenges. There as the 2022 Commonwealth Games; ``driving procurement excellence, are also too many communities that ``ensuring the region’s future transport social and environmental value are close to major growth centres investment leads to environment and innovative behaviour and corridors are poorly connected and biodiversity improvements through contracts, particularly to opportunities for skills and jobs. through proposed, local investment focusing on construction and They face inequality of access to in natural capital. This is central digital infrastructure; and natural space, which has a significant to the West Midlands’ ambition to detrimental impact on the most support better connected, healthier ``continuing to ensure more consistent disadvantaged communities. and more productive communities; superfast coverage to address the significant variations in superfast broadband, full fibre and gigabit capable broadband coverage.

60 61 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Local actions build, and supporting the provision of The West Midlands will: new skills as the industry changes; and ``increase the rate of housing ``work with the construction sector delivery in line with the Housing to accelerate the use of data and Package agreed with government; innovative processes and products in the construction industry. ``invest in land remediation, This means enhancing process bringing sites forward and innovation via modern methods of developing the skills required construction, including through the through the National Brownfield Manufacturing Technology Centre Institute in Wolverhampton; core innovation hub and building ``deliver quality through a West information modelling. It also means Midlands sustainable design charter incorporating innovation in houses to make good design the norm for as they are being built, working new buildings and make high quality with housing associations and design a criteria in commissioning for other providers. Given the housing all devolved housing and land funds; and infrastructure investments coming into the region, the West ``remain committed to encouraging Midlands has a strong opportunity diversity and new entrants to the to boost quality, sustainability and The scale of construction activity in market to support this increased Housing productivity through the use of the West Midlands in the decades delivery, such as through modular The rate of housing completions in the modern methods of construction. West Midlands is rising, but housing ahead provides a once in a generation costs are increasing faster than local opportunity to work with the sector to salaries. Most areas in the West transform productivity, methods, and Employment land Midlands are in the top fifth of house create new long-term skilled careers. New assets, including the University price increases nationally. The West The West Midlands Land Commission Similarly, there is a challenge for of Wolverhampton’s Springfield Midlands median increase is six per concluded that the ‘shortfall of land incubation space as well as grow Campus, set to be the largest cent — more than double the national for employment space is at least on space to support agile and construction and built environment average. This has been exacerbated as pressing as the shortage of land mobile economic activity. These campus in Europe, will drive this by a lack of supply, quality, choice and for new homes, and possibly more issues are most severe in Coventry change, including through enabling mix of affordable and social housing. so’. This is most strongly the case in and Warwickshire, but across the the adoption of new technologies and Typically, only 10 per cent affordable relation to those large scale, strategic region there is a significant gap in techniques in high growth potential housing is being delivered as part of sites that can have the greatest net good quality employment land. supply chain firms in offsite and city and town centre housing schemes. additional impact on growth and jobs. With the population set to increase modern methods of construction. by over 500,000 by 2030, the West Midlands is committed to ensuring new and retrofitted housing meets the full spectrum of housing needs.

62 63 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Integrated Transport Network – linking high employment density and housing sites (2016) National Brownfield Institute and Springfield Campus case study A crucial asset for tackling land largest specialist construction and availability shortages for housing built environment campus bringing and employment land is the National together businesses and the Brownfield Institute at the University education sector to maximise the of Wolverhampton. It’s home to impact on the economy. As the home a team of specialist researchers, of the West Midlands Construction consultants and industry experts University Technical College, the who will advise on all aspects of University’s School of Architecture brownfield development, from and Built Environment, and the Elite dealing with contaminated land to Centre for Manufacturing Skills, repurposing buildings and sites. Springfield Campus is a central part The National Brownfield Institute of the region’s growth ambitions, will be a part of Wolverhampton’s particularly in the construction developing Springfield Campus. The sector—this is further supplemented site of the former Springfield brewery by Dudley Advance II, Dudley is being transformed into Europe’s College’s new centre dedicated to advanced building technologies.

The Black Country Land and Property Local actions Investment Fund (LPIF) aims to Work is underway to scope the provide a solution to the shortfall need for employment land through through investment in projects which the West Midlands Strategic will support the re-use of brownfield Employment Site Study 2019. This land and buildings and the delivery will consider £10bn worth of existing of supporting infrastructure. This opportunities in identified investor- includes in the redevelopment of ready sites, and the West Midlands major employment land sites, such as will implement a strategic programme Phoenix 10 in Walsall and the proposed of employment land development. extension of in Wolverhampton. This will be based on up-to-date locally led evidence of requirements in different parts of the region.

64 65 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Energy Building on existing partnership, the DepartmentUK Central for –Business, Solihull Energy and Industrial Strategy will; Work on a regional energy strategy has Actions ``continueUK Central working Solihull with reflects the West the of Birmingham International Station been underway for several years, with The West Midlands is committed to Midlands,huge potential Energy of Capital,the West regulators Midlands and major housing and commercial the Regional Energy Policy Commission delivering successful new approaches andand industrythe integrated partners approach to explore to growth over the next few years. reporting in 2017. There are significant to clean energy generation, storage locallydelivery led that options makes on it potential achievable. The scale of opportunity is challenges in the region around the and distribution integrated within newSolihull local is institutionalan area of strong models growth unprecedented in the region: energy infrastructure that will underpin the transport system and major forand managing high demand regional that energyis a net 775,000m2 of new commercial and housing, industry and electric vehicles, employment sites. Future mobility and investmentcontributor and to the markets. Exchequer. UK mixed-use floor space; up to 5,000 as well as the issues of clean air and the industrial base that will be at the Central brings together Solihull’s new homes, up to 77,500 new jobs fuel poverty. West Midlands industry forefront of this change will require Local ambitions include to de-risk world class business, transport delivering up to £4.1bn additional spends over £2bn each year on energy specific additional energy requirements investment in meeting future energy and leisure assets to deliver a GVA each year. Investment in the and £15bn additional expenditure is that need to be addressed and catered requirements and to improve the unique proposition in a high value Hub across a range of programmes expected between now and 2030. for. The West Midlands will explore West Midlands’ ability to meet the environment. At its core is the Hub, interact and is coming together to how best to meet the forecast need infrastructure elements of increasing The West Midlands Science and which is already home to Birmingham deliver new energy provision, multi of the West Midlands’ manufacturing business and consumer demand. Innovation Audit highlights the region’s Airport, the National Exhibition modal transport innovation and large- sector, new transport system, increased innovation strengths in energy systems ThisCentre will be (NEC), based Jaguar on new Land innovative Rover scale business growth opportunities use of electric vehicles and additional and storage. The West Midlands is home approaches,and Birmingham including Business proposed Park. Energy The – including in EV manufacture and houses in new communities. to a range of major energy companies Innovationinternational Zones transport (EIZs), which connectivity bring new, digital, business services firms. including National Grid, Eon, Baxi and The refurbishment of existing housing togetherand existing the right growth stakeholders drivers will and be New communities are planned Cadent. The scale of demand for energy stock to address fuel poverty is an collectivelybolstered manage by the arrival energy of investment High Speed based on a modern interpretation services provides a strong pull factor for opportunity both for local supply risk2 efficiently,at Arden Cross, particularly the redevelopment when of garden town principles. global investment and commercialising chain firms and to tackle inclusion. innovation technologies are being new energy technologies. The West Midlands will work in commercialised or require strategic infrastructure investment. The West The West Midlands is committed partnership with obligated energy Midlands has led on the development to demand side management suppliers to explore approaches to of the ‘energy zones’ approach around vehicles and buildings. Local this challenge which maximise impact and has identified four pilots. authorities are also exploring the on the economy and communities. implementation of clean air zones, where relevant, to tackle air pollution.

66 67 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy Business environment

The West Midlands has a diverse, dynamic and growing business base. Exports and investment Our approach It also contains a strong ecosystem of level approach will be key to addressing Businesses in the West Midlands are The West Midlands will take a targeted business support, including business the overall productivity challenge. linked to markets across the world. It approach that focuses on working with is the fastest growing UK region for businesses through sector action plans, schools and a wide range of: university The West Midlands does not yet have goods exports and experienced 27 per and identifying the needs of different and business partnerships; active enough high-growth firms. The vast cent growth between 2015 and 2017. kinds of businesses and the tailored offer supply chain networks; and the majority of the West Midlands business Outside London and the South East, they need to grow. This differs across largest concentration of accelerators structure is composed of SMEs. Half the West Midlands exports the most different parts of the region and will in the country. The West Midlands’ of these are ‘lifestyle businesses’ and by value of any region: over £33bn require coordinated action by Growth ambition is to grow as a leading the West Midlands also has a lower in 2017. Local supply chain firms are Hubs, business networks, existing UK entrepreneurial region where number of larger companies and original competitive in a range of global markets business advisors and business schools. businesses of all sizes and sectors can equipment manufacturers. There is a for aerospace, materials, rail, automotive, The Local Industrial Strategy prioritises grow and boost their productivity. correlation between lower business healthcare devices and marine. three areas of business growth. Business growth and productivity growth rates and lower productivity at LEP level, but there is also strong Between 2011 and 2018, 775 Foreign The first priority is the provision of Business dynamism and productivity evidence that many more factors Direct Investment (FDI) projects have dedicated scale-up support for high performance is mixed in the West than revenue and jobs are important created nearly 46,000 new jobs, and potential companies across all sectors Midlands. GVA per employee in improving firm productivity. the number of projects per annum has and sizes that will address barriers varies significantly across sectors, more than doubled. FDI success has to growth and help position them to with average GVA per employee Between 2016/2017, the total number a significant impact on supply chain provide the good jobs of the future. below the national average. of businesses in the West Midlands firms and related jobs, many of which This will be focused on segmented increased by 9.6 per cent, compared to Low carbon and environmental are concentrated in the Black Country. business and supply support aimed at national growth of 6.1 per cent. Despite technologies is the most productive businesses in high-growth industries. For this recent performance, the West The West Midlands will continue to sector, followed by digital and creative example, investing with the Department Midlands needs to continue to increase work closely with the Department for business, professional & financial for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport its business stock. This will be crucial International Trade to capitalise on services (BPFS) and advanced (DCMS), and Creative England in SME in order to reach the national average the region’s positive trade growth and manufacturing and engineering. growth and support programmes with and correct the legacy of historically emerging opportunities by supporting creative industry-specific pathways. Like most of the UK, the West Midlands lower periods of business creation high potential exporters to reach Delivery and commissioning will business base is a mix of firms in the following industrial restructuring. the global market and maximise high-productivity “frontier” and low- awareness of the region’s key assets reflect the most effective pathway for There is a key role for social enterprise productivity “long tail”. The region’s firm to increase foreign direct investment different clusters and sectors. This in supporting the delivery of a more productivity index is 16 per cent below and capital investment into the area. will include support for high potential productive and inclusive economy the national average. This suggests social economy organisations, which and local measures aim to improve lower overall productivity is due to are a major part of ensuring balanced overall firm-level productivity. relatively low productivity firms rather and more sustainable growth. than the West Midlands’ industrial structure. Therefore, a targeted, firm-

68 69 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Business dynamism: Share of enterprise births (2016) Access to finance will be a key pillar of This will seek to identify those smaller support, working in close collaboration businesses that will benefit most from with the British Business Bank to exporting, work collaboratively with maximise the benefit of its programmes partners across the Midlands Engine and in the West Midlands. Firms continue capitalise on the business opportunities to report issues with finance from created by the Commonwealth Games. both the supply and demand side. This is both about maximising uptake of Local actions existing loan and equity finance and To support high-growth businesses attracting more private investment. It and clusters, the West Midlands will: also means working with businesses to ``develop further dedicated, cluster- ensure that they are investment ready focused business support aimed at the through business planning, support highest growth potential industries, and advice from entrepreneurs. including improving competitiveness of The second priority will be boosting our globally significant concentration business productivity among SMEs. of leading advanced manufacturing In line with the principles of the and engineering businesses through forthcoming Business Productivity supply chain SME support led Review, the West Midlands will by businesses for businesses; take a business-led approach that ``explore options to launch a fund for focuses on peer-to-peer networks, new industry co-investment to provide technology adoption, and industry wraparound support for businesses benchmarking. This will include working looking to grow into new sectors, with business-led initiatives to boost supply chains and markets need productivity such as Be the Business. to invest in new technologies and The West Midlands will champion the capital to grow into those markets; importance of upskilling business owners through increasing leadership ``use business support channels to help and management capability, with an businesses understand the importance ambition for businesses from the West of flexible working patterns, employee Midlands to make best use of the Small engagement and wellbeing, support Business Leadership Programme for carers and childcare in boosting and local assets such as the Centre in-work progression and supporting for Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship more women into employment, at , Europe’s leading including in more leadership roles; and centre on diversity and enterprise. The final priority will be to help West Midlands businesses to internationalise through opportunities in trade, investment and the visitor economy.

70 71 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

`` establishing a locally led virtual This will include developing bespoke Productivity Factory targeted at qualifications for staff looking to step Places SMEs. This will facilitate expert into management roles, providing key industry benchmarking, coaching, and underpinning skills and competencies management masterclasses for firms together with the business insights With a diverse mix of city centres, major towns, high quality natural within the West Midlands, and will draw required, including through focussed environment and rural areas, the West Midlands is investing in on learnings from the forthcoming support to extend the season and driving up housing numbers, improving the environment, connecting Business Productivity Review. further increase business tourism. It will also involve firm-level interventions transport and targeting major development sites, and ensuring To help businesses internationalise communities and businesses can thrive, improving health and the West Midlands will: to boost productivity ahead of the Commonwealth Games with Be the wellbeing outcomes. ``increase internationalisation by Business and other partners. The West Midlands Combined It also boasts major theatres and continuing to leverage national Authority has set out its commitment commercially thriving creative hubs resources and the Midlands Engine that all areas should benefit from including the Birmingham jewellery brand. This will focus on high-value growth and devolution, recognising quarter and gaming industry. contracts, new exporters and that not all would benefit in the securing first overseas orders. It will The West Midlands natural same way, or at the same time. include identifying and accessing environment, including its extensive This Local Industrial Strategy builds new markets with a particular focus river and canal network, is a major on that commitment, recognising on smaller businesses that may not asset and is important for the quality that parts of the West Midlands still currently be supported; and use the of life. A rich ecological network lies underperform on important indicators. opportunity of the Commonwealth within and links to the region’s cities, Games and City of Culture to provide Overview of the region towns and rural areas. This supports a wide variety of wildlife including targeted support to drive productivity The West Midlands has a distinctive set plants, small mammals, pollinators, through the visitor economy. of ‘places’ and assets. It contains the other insects and birds. Providing vital three cities of Coventry, Wolverhampton space for physical activity, improved and Birmingham; historic towns air quality and flood alleviation. including Warwick, , , Rugby and Leamington Spa; and the High Speed 2 will create further industrial supply chains and social and growth across the region, with geological heritage of Dudley, Sandwell globally significant development and Walsall in the Black Country. sites at UK Central and Birmingham Curzon Street. It is also a catalyst for The region is home to the National investment in transport infrastructure Exhibition Centre, which is one the over the next 10 years. The West UK’s premier leisure and conference Midlands aims to connect the region destinations, and major cultural centres so that its population is more mobile, and assets including Stratford-upon- and new opportunities are more Avon and Birmingham Symphony Hall. accessible than ever before.

72 73 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Too many of the region’s communities West Midlands ambition Town centres do not have access to jobs, skills and The West Midlands’ vision is that The cities of Birmingham, Coventry The government’s Stronger Towns support for enterprise to help them the region should be a place of and Wolverhampton account for about Fund and the Future High Streets Fund realise their potential. And too many opportunity for everyone. A young half of the region’s population (c.1.7 provide the basis of dedicated funding parts of the West Midlands have worse person should have the same choices million). In other boroughs much of to support a long-term, sustained than average levels of childhood and opportunities wherever they the population live in towns ranging national programme. The West obesity, adolescent and young adult grow up. To that end, local partners in size from 10,000 to over 100,000, Midlands Combined Authority, Local mental health, school readiness and are investing in affordable homes including the towns of Walsall, West Enterprise Partnerships and councils healthy life expectancy. The West and are putting in place the resource Bromwich, Shirley and Nuneaton. have committed to come together to Midlands has amongst the lowest to pilot and innovate to deliver In the Black Country, some 70 per implement the most comprehensive employment rate of any mayoral radical inclusive growth solutions. cent of the population lives in towns. town revival programme seen in the combined authority, 71 per cent, and The distinctive strengths and Many of the region’s towns prospered UK. One that will involve communities an above average unemployment rate during and after the industrial and local businesses so that benefits of 5.7 per cent. There are particular requirements of different places are reflected in all the interventions set revolution but over recent decades are maximised by concentrating spatial concentrations of this, including have not experienced the growth and spend in the local economy. One in parts of Sandwell, Birmingham out in this Local Industrial Strategy. They are all based on a spatial economic uplift of the region’s cities. that will live the values of the West and Wolverhampton. Educational Alongside vacant industrial sites, Midlands Leadership Commission attainment varies considerably, with analysis of each of the foundations of productivity and what drives growth in the decline of the traditional High to ensure that our communities outcomes in general better in eastern Street is leaving many towns facing can shape, lead and sustain what parts of the combined authority. the West Midlands. Interventions are place and cohort specific, or region difficult and sustained challenges. is set in train for the future. Furthermore, pollution and congestion wide, depending on the evidence. The West Midlands is ambitious for its The ambition is not just to tinker with impact on quality of life and limited The West Midlands’ long-term aim town centres and determined to help small changes and initiatives but to transport options make it difficult them evolve. Providing the support fundamentally change the future for people living in some parts for a fully-integrated and seamless multi-modal transport system across required is a major delivery priority, for our towns. The West Midlands is of the region to reach the jobs to enable town centres to re-establish already committed to making a start and opportunities elsewhere. the whole region is crucial. This will support the local ambition to ensure themselves as vibrant social and through the locally led Town Centre Work is underway to ensure high our towns, cities and rural areas are economic hubs that meet the needs Programme and Regional Town Centre streets across the region are all thriving, liveable places where of residents and local businesses and Task Force; a collaborative approach made fit for the future. Many West residents have the same opportunities provide accessible locations for public that will work with residents and other Midlands centres will need to reinvent to benefit from increases in prosperity. services in attractive environments. stakeholders so that for each place our themselves to meet these challenges In addition to these interventions, By doing so they will remain viable strategic investment framework builds head on and provide a centre that the West Midlands are devising a centres with a changed retail function, on their knowledge and ambitions and meets the needs of residents. number of place-specific approaches. provide good locations for business ensures that they have a stake for the and community uses, support the future. The West Midlands is focusing wellbeing of residents and contribute initially on a number of pilot areas. to the inclusive growth for communities that would otherwise be left behind.

74 75 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

that the return on investment International examples from Walsall deliberately targets a step change in Singapore, Australia and the UK environmental, social and economic show how productive this integrated Walsall Council, local partners and the and mixed use development. The outcomes through new forms of approach can be. The West Midlands’ West Midlands Combined Authority vision is to capitalise on the strengths public-private-social partnership; commitment to inclusive growth are working together to develop and facilities that the town centre ``recognises that this way of working means that partners want to take the a strategic approach to unlocking has to provide opportunities for is vital to closing the productivity best of elsewhere and go further. seize the opportunities within the more events, social enterprise and gap and that while one size does Inclusive Growth Corridors use centre which could complement a a focus on the centre as a leisure not fit all the core principles of the growth potential of the area canal side location and provide the and community destination. integration, coordinated, and to reimagine an underlying social opportunity for high quality residential collaborative investment should infrastructure that can turn changes underpin our approach; in the built and natural environment ``demonstrates the West Midlands’ into changes in life chances that And in tandem with focused attention West Midlands aims to create a are tangible and measurable. on towns, the planned investment different and more holistic approach commitment to spatially targeting in road, rail, tram and bus services for investment and delivery, which and prioritising action across a means that towns and cities in the goes beyond ‘site-by-site’ development wide range of partners; and West Midlands will be better connected and embeds whole-system thinking. ``begins with citizen voice – to ensure so that people and businesses can Partners in the West Midlands that our flagship investments are access the wider opportunities are exploring four priority about improving the lives of people driven by this Local Industrial inclusive growth corridors: within these corridors, and that Strategy. Our skills development communities can see clearly the programmes will also ensure that ``Wolverhampton to Walsall relationship between investment and residents can take advantage of ``Sandwell to Dudley the issues they want addressed. the new employment opportunities in our revitalised town centres. `` and the A34 The West Midlands will also continue ``Greater Icknield to to explore ways to maximise the The Inclusive Growth benefit of close partnerships with Corridors approach: and between anchor institutions. ``brings together the influence Inclusive Growth Corridors and devolved powers of the West The West Midlands is bringing together Midlands Combined Authority investment in targeted and locally with local authorities and other agreed Inclusive Growth Corridors. partners in an integrated approach This is a bold and potentially game- to place-based change—with the changing approach to clean growth aim of leveraging significant private and reform which aims to transform investment into the region; the lives of residents, generating ``embeds inclusive growth goals additional social and economic growth and a ‘social baselining’ at the at scale through collaboration. The heart of these changes, ensuring

76 77 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

Wolverhampton Dudley

Wolverhampton is currently enjoying The integration of transport modes Dudley is utilising its industrial heritage with other key attractions. The record levels of private and public – bus, rail and metro – will support and unique geological make-up to both integrated town centre regeneration investment, with £4bn being injected accessibility to Wolverhampton build a well connected and flourishing programme will deliver a package into regeneration projects city wide. attractions, both existing and to be place for the future and ensure of interventions that will improve An impressive and compelling mix developed. Wolverhampton’s industrial that residents and firms benefit and enhance leisure attractions, of projects, both geographically and strength made it the place it is today from and contribute to the strategic boost connectivity for residents sectoral, are being developed so that and reinforcing this manufacturing opportunities and actions in this and businesses, and increase the city embraces future opportunities cluster remains a priority. The i54 strategy. The thriving Castle Quarter prosperity. Ultimately enhancing and maximises its potential as a place. strategic employment site north — including the Black Country Living Dudley’s economy and appeal as In the city centre, the £55m leisure- of the city centre has become a Museum, Dudley Zoological Gardens a place to live in, work and visit. led Westside scheme will be key to successful hub for sector-leading and the emerging Black Country The Metro extension on to Brierley opening up Wolverhampton, providing firms within high-value manufacturing, Geopark — will connect to other key Hill is an important growth corridor, a multiplex cinema, restaurants, such as and assets, such as Dudley College and with the opportunity to generate retail and leisure space and high- Moog. i54 is also the country’s its emerging Institute of Technology, major community benefits across quality city living. Additionally, most successful enterprise zone. via a Very Light Rail line being the borough, connect residents Wolverhampton’s connectivity will Furthermore, Wolverhampton has an developed in conjunction with WMG. to economic opportunities and be further boosted by a flagship ambition to advance its construction The Metro extension develop brownfield sites and help transport interchange project—£132m strength, driven by investment through Dudley, and a new public to regenerate borough towns. private and public investment into a in the University’s Springfield transport interchange that is planned An inclusive growth skills and single integrated city centre transport Campus development. The site of for the town will catalyse further employment pilot is being run in hub, supported by brand new prime the former Springfield brewery is development, notably the Portersfield Brierley Hill to cover a 2km area office and retail accommodation at being transformed into Europe’s scheme—a major leisure and retail from the final Metro stop to provide i10 and i9 within a new commercial largest specialist construction complex that will create a bustling opportunities to local residents. district, and a £35m refurbishment and built environment campus, town centre environment and connect of the city’s main retail centre. bringing together businesses and the education sector to maximise the impact on the economy. Investment sites and delivery plan To underpin delivery of the The West Midlands has major 215,000 additional homes set investment and development sites out in the infrastructure section, and has prioritised engagement the West Midlands is finalising a with the investment market spatial investment and delivery around a clear investment package plan, supported by a pipeline of all implemented by the West Midlands significant housing sites in the region. Growth Company, Combined This ensures that all partners have a Authority and local authorities. clear, shared view across boundaries of the provision made in local plans and the long-term site pipeline.

78 79 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy Implementation

Monitoring and governance economic and social performance Through the West Midlands Combined will be published here: www.wmca. Authority, the region has a proven org.uk/what-we-do/economy/ governance and delivery structure. Implementation Elected members on the Combined Authority Board take responsibility Government and the West Midlands are for specific portfolios, with a Board clear that the Local Industrial Strategy advising on each. Relevant elements sets out an agreed and shared view of of this strategy, such as housing, opportunities for the West Midlands, as transport, innovation, skills, inclusive well as the challenges that need to be growth and the environment will be addressed, to maximise its contribution coordinated by the relevant Combined to UK productivity and earnings growth. Authority Board. Firms of all sizes This Local Industrial Strategy does not and across supply and value chains include any new spending commitments will contribute to and benefit from outside of existing budgets. Instead, its successful implementation. it will inform the strategic use of A fully integrated investment planning local funding streams and, where system ensures alignment across the relevant, spending and decisions at portfolios and allows the West Midlands the national level. It will also help the Combined Authority to measure West Midlands decide on its approach progress against set metrics. Delivery to maximising the long-term impact reporting on the key programmes of the new UK Shared Prosperity and activities related to the Local Fund once its details and priorities Industrial Strategy will be integrated are announced at Spending Review. so that the Combined Authority To demonstrate progress towards Board, local partners and government the long-term vision set out by this are able to monitor progress and Local Industrial Strategy, the Strategy collectively we can align inputs. contains a number of specific actions. Implementation will be coordinated by Where these actions are locally led, the Strategic Economic Development these will be drawn from local budgets Board, reporting to the Combined which exist for those purposes; where Authority Board. The West Midlands actions are shared between West will monitor the impact of this Midlands and government, they will strategy on the economy through be funded from existing local and a locally agreed set of economic departmental budgets, with funding and social performance measures, allocated for those specific purposes. Annual reports on the West Midlands’

80 81 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

This Trailblazer Strategy does not Implementation will recognise that represent all the priorities and action the West Midlands is distinctive Source material being developed in the West Midlands. information: it functions as an area As detailed in this Strategy, the West of three distinct but interrelated Midlands will regularly review the latest economies. The West Midlands Local The West Midlands has developed Further sources are listed below: evidence to continue designing the most Industrial Strategy will be implemented a comprehensive evidence base ``West Midlands Land Commission effective approaches and interventions by the West Midlands Combined covering all aspects of the local – www.wmca.org.uk/what- to be at the forefront of the future Authority and Local Enterprise economy, including through the work of we-do/research-analysis/ UK economy. This Strategy sets out Partnerships working together. a number of independent commissions. The collated evidence base, including ``West Midlands Productivity and long term ambitions and will continue The West Midlands sees the detail on the businesses base and Skills Commission – www.wmca.org. to evolve as the economy changes. implementation of the Local Industrial productivity can be found here: uk/what-we-do/research-analysis/ Over the medium term, a wide range Strategy as an important opportunity www.blackcountrylep.co.uk/about-us/ of local partners will work together to further strengthen delivery and ``West Midlands Mental Health west-midlands-combined-authority/ to keep this strategy relevant and capacity across the West Midlands Commission – www.wmca.org.uk/ local-industrial-strategy-evidence-base/ drive implementation of both new at local and regional level. what-we-do/research-analysis/ programmes and established priorities. ``West Midlands Leadership This includes through the development Commission – www.wmca.org.uk/ of the inclusive growth roadmap. what-we-do/research-analysis/

Ideas

Future of mobility

Places People Data-driven healthcare and 5 life sciences’ foundations of productivity Creative content Business techniques and environment Infrastructure technologies

Modern services

82 83 Industrial Strategy West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy

© Crown copyright 2019

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available from: www.gov.uk/beis

Contact us if you have any enquiries about this publication, including requests for alternative formats, at: [email protected]

84