The Midlands RDAs (emda and AWM), working with the Assemblies and Government Office's in both regions, as well as the ODPM, are exploring the potential for a Midlands specific Sustainable Communities Plan (SCP) initiative. The key drivers identified so far have been around increasing economic growth and creating more sustainable communities in the Midlands. The emphasis is on making stronger connections and linkages between the regions based around common issues and opportunities, and to work to achieve more together than the regions can achieve alone.
The vision of the work so far has been:
‘to drive forward the engines of economic growth across the English Midlands, nurturing and re-igniting the indigenous sparks of innovation, enterprise and creativity, to accelerate the evolution and delivery of sustainable communities for the 21st century’.
This work has been progressed by a Technical Working Group consisting of the organisations referred to above, and this has been overseen by a Steering Group consisting of senior representatives (CE, Chairs and Directors) of the same organisations, plus representation from some key cities in the Midlands. SQW consultants recently finalised a report to the Steering Group which contains 5 broad ‘Proposals’ which are recommended as the basis for the future SCP in the Midlands. These are:
Smart Knowledge
Smart Technology
Smart Connections
Smart Renaissance
Smart Futures
The workshop where WMita represented The West Midlands Business Council was based on SMART Knowledge. How to keep knowledge in the region, how to take advantage of it, how to use it better...
It could be to better capitalise on Company IP?
Modernisation, diversification of SME base
Develop Knowledge Workers, Users
Develop Knowledge Flows and Transfers into Midlands
Develop Knowledge communities, interest groups, equipped to take control
First Rate R&D, within HE Base, co-ordinated and developed…
The vision was to look 20/30 years forward…
There were many, many suggestions made as the discussions developed. These were distilled into 4 key areas for further work.
From a business perspective – If the knowledge leads to innovation or information in relation to competition then WMita believe Businesses will engage. The biggest issue is likely to be TIME/COST associated with SME’s engaging and so there has to be recognition with appropriate facilitations to account for this issue.
• Brokerage – Some form of facilitation for Knowledge
• Knowledge Analysis and Data – Means of being able to manage the knowledge itself
• Business Engagement – Procurement, Networking, Engagement and Globalisation
• Zero Waste Concept
This is for the Midlands and visionary - more details will be posted as this initiative develops.