POLITICS Shaping the nation’s industrial strategy


skills like how to answer a telephone,” was one of the critical but often-heard comments made on this topic. Mandie Stravino, Principal and Chief Executive


which are being mooted as the backbone of UK plc’s economic vitality post-Brexit. At events staged with partners in Derbyshire,


Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, the Chamber has been asking if the pillars are the right ones and, if so, how do they translate into an East Midlands context. The ten pillars identified by Government are:


1. Investing in science, research and innovation 2. Developing skills 3. Upgrading infrastructure 4. Supporting businesses to start and grow 5. Improving procurement 6. Encouraging trade and inward investment 7. Delivering affordable energy and clean growth


8. Cultivating world-leading sectors 9. Driving growth across the whole country 10. Creating the right institutions to bring together sectors and places. Delegates that attended the Chamber’s Derby


event, held at the Derby Conference Centre on 17 March, in partnership with Marketing Derby, placed the greatest priority on investing in science, research and innovation - to become a more innovative economy and do more to commercialise our world-leading science base. Comments included: “It’s very important that


we do that in this country. It’s about jobs, but it’s also about research and development. If our future is just about assembly then that is a race to the bottom.” Although subject to more detailed debate and criticism, developing skills was also highly rated as a priority, with its sub-text identifying a need to help people and businesses by ensuring everyone has the basic skills required of a modern economy and boosting STEM, digital and numeracy skills. “Some young people are really lacking basic


24 business network April 2017


at Derby College, who was at the meeting, said: “About 44% of young people leave school with five or more GCSEs, that means 66% are coming to us without.” She added that work was already being done


to improve young people’s preparedness for work but said: “This document is quite squarely in the business department and the skills system is Department for Education. We have got some work to do there.” Also highly rated on the expressed list of


priorities was upgrading infrastructure in digital, energy, transport, water and flood defences and to better-align Government investment to local needs. HS2 in particular was seen as “a massive


possibility” that would create a huge number of jobs with the prospect of the Toton area “becoming a new city”, but while Nottingham could easily extend its tram network to Toton “how will Derby people get to Toton?” Introducing the forum, John Forkin, Managing


Director at Marketing Derby, the Chamber’s partner for the Derby session, said: “For some


Chris Hobson


time now I have been banging on about an industrial strategy. I welcome that we are putting into one place where we are going.” He then held an impromptu question-and-


answer session with Derby North MP Amanda Solloway who is part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and has recently become an ambassador for HS2. John asked her why this Government had


decided an industrial strategy was a good idea. Amanda said: “When Theresa May came to


power, it was one of the things she was really concerned about.” She said it was important that the Industrial


Strategy “works for everyone” and to “make sure people are buying British”. “We have to make people recognise that what


we do in this country is fantastic,” she said. In his opening remarks, Chris Hobson, Director


The opportunity to contribute to the Government’s post-Brexit industrial strategy closes this month. The Chamber’s response is being shaped by the demands of its members. To make sure the voice of business is heard, the Chamber has been jointly- hosting feedback sessions across our three counties.


Businesses across the region have been helping the Chamber to shape its response to the Government’s Industrial Strategy Green Paper. Consultation formally closes on 17 April and


the Chamber is submitting a response based on what hundreds of local businesses have said the priorities should be. The Strategy is built on ten specific pillars,


post-Brexit


Amanda Solloway MP


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