Back to talking Devolution again last week for an event with Leicestershire Business Voice as Chair of the Leicester and Leicestershire Business and Skills Partnership. I do love a panel after a day teaching Cranfield School of Management.
As well as talking to much I did plenty of listening; I get the frustration of where we sit in the devolution timetable. But we are where we are.
I agree on greater collaboration across the Business Voices. Whilst the Business Board I chair is the 'official' conduit to the post LLEP devolved it does not mean there is only one voice. That's why I asked that organisation like the LBV and East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire) and the FSB and Institute of Directors (IoD) sit directly on the board to make sure their voices are in the room!
The government explicitly expects local leaders to work "collaboratively and proactively" to develop robust structures that serve the best interests of the whole area.
So that's my aim. We have the mechanism in place and our job locally is to make it ready for when devolution arrives so we are not reorganising ourselves again!
And this is why the LBV event was useful again. It confirms what I hear elsewhere about what we need.
And we need a demonstration we are working collaboratively. Leaving the Ego and badge at the door. We need evidence. We need worked up plans for investment based on this evidence and how it will grow our economy. And we need a growth plan unique to the unique challenges and opportunities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Big takeaway from me - never assume people know many details of what is happening. Quite rightly people are busy getting on with their daily lives to bother about the day to day in Westminster. I guess that's why Saje Impact has worked for 16 years and still available to help business, and charities navigate these complexities!
Thanks to Sue Tilley & Simon Gribbon for the hard work putting on the event and for Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL for supporting and Beth Walsh for the photos as always! She has a habit of capturing my smiles!
