of the area around Blackpool North train station, the Multiversity will be built by Blackpool Council, then leased to the college.


It will enhance the college’s existing higher education provision which is directly linked to local employment needs. Alun is excited by its potential to deliver transformational change.


He says: “In a modern economy we know the future wellbeing of the country and its communities depends on having high levels of skills.


“If we want to be competitive, we have to be able to help people develop their potential and have these skills the economy needs and that doesn’t mean a one-size fits all solution.”


The multiversity will offer a range of routes to high-skill levels in a lifelong learning environment. Alun says: “Those multiple routes means that people will have the opportunity to get the skills they need. It is a flexible system which means they can dip in and out.


“It will have a hybrid role of a college and a university and bring ideas and innovation, supporting employers in different ways and giving people different access to skills.


“Historically this has been a proper technical college with great facilities working to the needs of employers. We have an opportunity to take that a step further.”


Alun’s career has been wide and varied. Prior to his previous role as principal of Oldham College


he had worked in a range of public services, local government, area-based regeneration, youth work and education, including primary, secondary and higher education.


His first role in Oldham was in charge of the borough’s secondary school reorganisation programme, initiated after the riots in the town in 2001. Part of that role was addressing the issue of schools that had become racially segregated.


He has also worked in some of the more deprived areas of Manchester and on the regeneration of the east of the city, which was the biggest project of its kind in the country at the time.


And he sees the Multiversity as an important regeneration programme. “It is putting something amazing into a part of Blackpool that has been neglected and needs real investment.”


The common thread that runs through his career is an interest in how to address the problems of areas of economic decline and how to deliver better opportunities for people who live there.


Looking at his present role he says: “I’d probably not have moved to any other college or place in the country.


“Further Education colleges should be making a real contribution to their local economy. We have amazing facilities and a great relationship with employers but also a real opportunity to do something different.”


Miranda Barker OBE Chief executive


@elancschamber


ACT NOW TO MAKE DEVO


WORK FOR US Keir Starmer and crew are pro devolution, that we know. But are they focused on supporting Lancashire to devolve?


The Devolution Bill quoted in the King’s speech talks of weighting positive investment towards those areas which go for a mayoral combined authority.


You only have to look at the meeting Keir called in the first few days of government – a prioritised private audience for all mayors with other leaders very much a poor second.


The mood music from MPs and Jim McMahon the ‘Devo Tzar’ is that focus will now be on mayoral deals with little houseroom for anything else.


Our great swathe of Labour MPs are now on the ground backing a mayoral combined authority. But they haven’t been versed in the local difficulties in trying to build an alliance of our local authorities.


An artist’s impression of the Multiversity ALUN’S TAKE ON LEADERSHIP What makes a good leader?


You have to be really clear about purpose. What is your mission, where are you trying to go?


It is your job to create the environment where all these talented people you employ and work with can shine, an environment where they can use their talents to create that vision.


It is giving them that focus, trusting them and making sure they have what they need to succeed.


Then you need to create an environment where others are able to step up. Leaders also need to be able to step in sometimes, if there are problems to make sure it gets fixed quickly.


What leaders have inspired you?


As a child one of my cricket heroes was the England opening batter Geoffrey Boycott. He was single-minded and technically excellent. Those are qualities I admire.


As a life-long Manchester City supporter I


find the way Pep Guardiola runs his football team fascinating. It’s not just the tactics and technical know how but how he trusts his team to get the job done.


Sir Howard Bernstein, who did so much to drive the regeneration of Manchester as chief executive of the city council, was also someone I admired. He created a culture which saw everyone pushing in the same direction


He was prepared to say, ‘I work with any government policies my job is to make this a better place’.


What qualities does a leader need?


You have to have ‘big picture’ skills. You need to have a sense of what we are all collectively trying to do.


Then you have got to have the ability to create that structure where other people can shine. If other people are shining your job is probably done.


LANCASHIREBUSINES SV IEW.CO.UK


If we’re not proactive in pushing for an acceptable devo deal we will soon see Lancashire alone in the North West, unfunded, underdeveloped and at the back of the queue for government investment. Cheshire and Cumbria will pass us by while we are arguing amongst ourselves.


If we really want that government investment, autonomy and an escalating financially beneficial devo deal process to commence like Andy Burnham has in Manchester, we need to act now for the chance for real transport infrastructure funding, the opportunity for investment zones and the right to have a voice at the top table of government and regional power.


We need to lobby our local authorities and MPs now to ensure government locally, regionally and nationally know we want devolution – and a chance to control and invest in our future.


Call us on 01254 356400 or visit chamberelancs.co.uk


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IN VIEW


LANCASHIRE LEADERS


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