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The UK’s plan for growth: how Government could do more

By David Ralph, Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West LEP

Economic growth driven by science and innovation is set out as one of the Government’s key priorities. But what this looks like in practice is falling short of the ambitious plan our country needs. 

The Autumn Statement lacked a plan for real growth, bringing about stability in lieu of driving new industries and innovation. The Chancellor’s new vision for prosperity, the ‘four Es’ – enterprise, education, employment and everywhere – still fails to set out a clear plan to push forwards for real growth.

Setting an ambition for all places (‘everywhere’) to benefit from Levelling Up falls short of the ambitious, local strategic plan our areas need.

What could a proper plan look like?

It seems hard to imagine, but just a short while ago we had such an approach. I don’t want to get hung up on labels and names, but the basis of a strong plan remains the same.

It must be based on robust evidence, and focus on the central economic challenge. For this area, it is decades of low productivity, in turn causing reduced earnings and standards of living, and significant areas of low social mobility.

A strong plan must have places at its heart, focussing on their local distinctive strengths and giving them the freedom to do things differently. 

And a strong plan must be owned collectively by local government, businesses, education and communities – those places where the plan will become reality. The Heart of the South West has distinctive challenges of course, but also distinctive opportunities, especially in new growth areas such as zero carbon energy, high tech engineering and digital.

Any new plan for growth must be based on the above, and come coupled with the freedom and resources to make the investments and decisions to realise those opportunities. Investment in innovation, in supporting businesses to invest and trade, in creating the skilled workforce for the future, giving them the opportunity to benefit from growth opportunities. Investment in the connectivity our area needs in transport and digital, investment to ensure remote communities can access new jobs in growth sectors.

Our challenge is to grow productivity and prosperity in a rapidly changing world. We need an ambitious, substantial plan for growth to ensure our places can meet that challenge head on. Until then, statements and headlines remain just that.

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.