Put out the bunting. Nottingham city council has been on the Bob Martins again. And hurrah for that! A new economic plan for Nottingham was launched at a business summit in the city last Friday, putting the emphasis firmly on growth and aiming to be "the blueprint for prosperity over the next 10 years". Extra cheese sandwiches all round I reckon. Quickly now.
Sadly, I was unable to be there in person (and not just because it was a 7.30am kick-off!) but UKR was well represented. And I hear it was a right shot in the arm. Nottingham city council, in the driving seat, sees private sector solutions as vital to many of the challenges it faces and has opened a consultation - or "a conversation" (nice!) - with the private sector over the coming weeks.
There were about 100 senior guys from the private sector there at the summit, showing real support. As ever, the Nottingham family sticks together and is always on-song, even in the face of a public sector document. One business commentator summed up the report thus: "Too many recommendations, but the heart is in the right place." And that seemed to be the general view.
Sadly, I was unable to be there in person (and not just because it was a 7.30am kick-off!) but UKR was well represented. And I hear it was a right shot in the arm. Nottingham city council, in the driving seat, sees private sector solutions as vital to many of the challenges it faces and has opened a consultation - or "a conversation" (nice!) - with the private sector over the coming weeks.
There were about 100 senior guys from the private sector there at the summit, showing real support. As ever, the Nottingham family sticks together and is always on-song, even in the face of a public sector document. One business commentator summed up the report thus: "Too many recommendations, but the heart is in the right place." And that seemed to be the general view.
This is a city authority which is thinking big. Believing that, in a
tough era of high unemployment and public spending cuts at home and
competition for investment abroad from emerging markets such as China
and India, "Nottingham plc" must go ahead with an agreed list of
priorities where the target will always be growth and increased
employment.
They also explicitly recognised that two government initiatives could also affect the final shape of the plan: one is the City Deal (the new powers and responsibilities that core cities are set to gain under agreement with central government) and the other is the third round of the Regional Growth Fund. Miatta Fahnbulleh, of the Cabinet Office in London, the government official negotiating Nottingham's City Deal arrangement (and of our own UKR/EG Regeneration Commission of course) was on hand to represent the central government.
But, while it will obviously accept support from all quarters, thank goodness "Nottingham plc" is clear that it will not be reliant upon central government initiatives: "We have to take responsibility for generating growth ourselves, and our growth plan therefore has to be bold and radical, but also pragmatic and realistic."
As it stands so far, the growth plan has a list of seven priority growth areas: education, skills and training, transport, digital connectivity, business birth and growth, commercial development, reputation and emerging sectors. Each has a shopping list of actions and aspirations. They all knit together firmly in building a knowledge economy.
As the report says: "The ability for Nottingham to grow directly depends on its ability to attract and retain talented individuals which will in turn improve its overall skills profile. Although our universities have a strong track record of graduate employment, it is important that Nottingham retains and nurtures this and also non-graduate talent. This will only be achieved together with our work to increase opportunities for talented individuals."
Solid gold in our view. Solid gold.
It is an open secret that UKR is working with Nottingham city council. Well, why wouldn't you want to work with a host authority with such vision and focus on growth? One that wants a "conversation" with its private sector? Count us in. See you all at MIPIM.
www.mynottingham.gov.uk/growthplan2012
They also explicitly recognised that two government initiatives could also affect the final shape of the plan: one is the City Deal (the new powers and responsibilities that core cities are set to gain under agreement with central government) and the other is the third round of the Regional Growth Fund. Miatta Fahnbulleh, of the Cabinet Office in London, the government official negotiating Nottingham's City Deal arrangement (and of our own UKR/EG Regeneration Commission of course) was on hand to represent the central government.
But, while it will obviously accept support from all quarters, thank goodness "Nottingham plc" is clear that it will not be reliant upon central government initiatives: "We have to take responsibility for generating growth ourselves, and our growth plan therefore has to be bold and radical, but also pragmatic and realistic."
As it stands so far, the growth plan has a list of seven priority growth areas: education, skills and training, transport, digital connectivity, business birth and growth, commercial development, reputation and emerging sectors. Each has a shopping list of actions and aspirations. They all knit together firmly in building a knowledge economy.
As the report says: "The ability for Nottingham to grow directly depends on its ability to attract and retain talented individuals which will in turn improve its overall skills profile. Although our universities have a strong track record of graduate employment, it is important that Nottingham retains and nurtures this and also non-graduate talent. This will only be achieved together with our work to increase opportunities for talented individuals."
Solid gold in our view. Solid gold.
It is an open secret that UKR is working with Nottingham city council. Well, why wouldn't you want to work with a host authority with such vision and focus on growth? One that wants a "conversation" with its private sector? Count us in. See you all at MIPIM.
www.mynottingham.gov.uk/growthplan2012
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