POLITICS WINSIDE
Edward Argar, MP for Charnwood, on what is needed to help the region prosper.
Investing in the East Midlands will benefit the whole country
The East Midlands is a wonderful place to live and work and is also incredibly well- placed to be the engine helping drive economic growth for the whole country. We are located at the heart of the UK; our
region has a number of first-class universities – like Leicester, Loughborough, and De Montfort in my own county – all providing skilled and motivated people eager to bring their talents to our region’s hugely successful businesses and economy. We also have vibrant cities like Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and Lincoln and as a region are embracing innovation and technology, with hubs like the Charnwood Campus reflecting this. Despite this, we still face challenges to
ensure our region fulfills its full potential, and continues to play that central role in our country’s economic success. Only 37.9% of graduates in the East Midlands employed six months after their graduation are in that employment in the East Midlands. The equivalent for London is c. 69%. Now, London may have particular factors that would make that rate higher, but I would argue not almost twice as high. Similarly, as a region and despite our location, we still have work to do to build on existing transport investment to ensure we continue to have the right transport links for the future. It is our businesses, large and small, that
drive our country’s growth; those businesses are the bedrock of our economy. Our public services depend on a strong economy to pay for them, so, while business delivers that growth, it’s vital we create the conditions and
ABOUT EDWARD ARGAR
Edward has been the Member of Parliament for Charnwood since 2015, and lives in the heart of his constituency in Leicestershire. Edward grew up in Kent where he attended his local Grammar
School before studying history at Oriel College, Oxford. After university, he moved to London to work as a political adviser to the then Shadow Foreign Secretary, before spending almost a decade working for private sector businesses in management consultancy and
communications jobs. Between 2006 and 2015, Edward served as a Councillor on Westminster City Council. Edward is currently the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Junior Minister) at the Ministry of Justice, having previously served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Home Secretary, to the Conservative Party Chairman, and in the Department for Education. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, tennis, skiing, and watching cricket.
business network October 2018 45 Despite our current success, and investment
‘It is our businesses, large and small, that drive our country’s growth; those businesses are the bedrock of our economy’
infrastructure businesses need to flourish. Partnership working is key and the Midlands Engine, Midlands Connect, our local LEPs, and our Local Authorities all play their part, complemented by the Government’s ambitious Industrial Strategy, which seeks to boost productivity, create jobs and increase earning power. I am confident that as the sectors rightly
highlighted by the Midlands Engine as being central to our region’s future success continue to grow, the East Midlands will excel and continue to develop even further, but we must deliver the environment that enables continued growth.
levels, I recognise still more needs to be done to encourage young people to develop the skills required for these sectors. We need to see the creation of more graduate schemes and a wider variety of apprenticeships across the region being offered, and to ensure an ever-closer partnership between our world-class universities and businesses. I am confident that the Science and Innovation Audit along with the Midlands Management and Leadership Institute will work to address this. With almost twice the UK average of TEF
Gold-rated universities for teaching excellence, we must do more to encourage people to stay in the Midlands after graduating. We must also have the most robust and reliable transport systems, fit for the future, in place. That is why I am encouraged that the Government has already committed to investing £5bn in Midlands transport infrastructure over the course of this Parliament. We must ensure we take a broader strategic view of our region’s transport needs, looking towards the next 20 or 30 years, rather than delivering only localised solutions. Between 2011 and 2015, the Midlands
received more foreign direct investment than any other UK region. I have no doubt that ambitious plans to improve transport, develop the Midlands skills network and enhance productivity will see the East Midlands continue to attract that record foreign and domestic investment that makes our area such an engine of growth for our entire country.
ESTMINSTER
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