Leading balanced & sustainable growth in a post-Brexit economy

Shaping a Great Future for the East Midlands

Good for Business

The Great East Midlands

The East Midlands has led the way in terms of UK growth: creating jobs, increasing GDP and developing exports at a rate as fast as anywhere in the country.

At the heart of this success is a well-balanced, well-connected economy, diverse in the business sectors and communities that are based here and with strong connections to the rest of the UK and the wider world.

Nowhere in the UK is better placed than the East Midlands to support the Government as it develops and delivers on its vision for a successful UK economy outside of the EU. In developing policy to deliver balanced and sustainable growth, the experience of East Midlands businesses must be central.

Well balanced, well connected

economy“ ”Strong

connections to the rest of the

UK and the wider world

“”

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Derby Nottingham

Leicester

The Right Ingredients for Growth

Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire has valuable economic assets spread across its geography.

Businesses:Over 111,000 businesses based in the region, with household names including Walgreens Boots Alliance, Next, Rolls-Royce, Toyota, Caterpillar, Bombardier, Aggregate Industries, JCB and Experian. Together, these businesses employ 1,370,000 people, with regional strengths in manufacturing (13.7% of all employees vs 8.3% nationally), construction (5% vs 4.6% nationally) and transport (5% vs 4.7% nationally) and support services (10.5% vs 8.9%).

Infrastructure:Situated in the centre of the country, the East Midlands is a pivot point for domestic and international connectivity, served by three of the country’s most strategic road and rail routes in the M1, Midland Main Line and East Coast Main Line. Within a few miles of each other, East Midlands Airport, the East Midlands Gateway Strategic Rail Freight Interchange, and the proposed HS2 station at Toton have the potential to drive growth for decades to come. Around this infrastructure, the region has land for development at prices competitive with anywhere else in the UK.

Centres of enterprise:The region is home to five Enterprise Zones, spread across its geography, with HORIBA MIRA in Hinckley, Markham Vale in Chesterfield, Infinity Park in Derby, the Nottingham Enterprise Zone and the Loughborough and Leicester Enterprise Zone. Collectively these act as centres of excellence and innovation in the key sectors of automotive, aerospace, rail, health and wellbeing, along with broader high-end manufacturing and research activity.

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…read on…

Academic excellence:The area is served by the world-leading academic institutions of Loughborough University, University of Leicester and De Montfort University, the University of Derby, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University. These provide international specialisms in subjects ranging from engineering to space science and low carbon to software engineering.

People:None of the ingredients would mean anything without the 3.2 million people living here. Along with its great market towns and thriving rural areas, the region is served by three of the UK’s largest and most diverse cities. These provide people, ideas and verve into all of the above.

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Growing the UK from the East Midlands

The experience and needs of business in the East Midlands must be at the centre of driving UK growth. The following should be key tenets of the Government’s developing industrial strategy and its strategies for place-based growth via the Midlands Engine:

Invest in infrastructure: Be bold and give certainty with road and rail

infrastructure investment and ensure procurement practices enable competitiveness in local supply chains

Ensure all businesses have access to reliable, fast broadband with a view to enabling access to the next generation of broadband technology

Reduce the day-to-day cost of doing business:

Be cognisant of the cumulative impact of legislation on the business community – identifying and cutting unnecessary red tape and not introducing new measures that increase employment or compliance costs

Invest in energy production, including shale gas extraction and renewable technology development, supporting the delivery of lower cost energy and improving long-term energy security

Deliver a transparent and predictable business rates system that incentivises investment and is based on ability pay

Grow our international footprint: Back SMEs looking to export for the first time through

supporting the practical steps that this entails

Deliver aviation policy that encourages new route development and utilises existing capacity at regional airports …read on…

Develop competitiveness in supply-chains:

Develop targeted support programmes for businesses looking to diversify and innovate

Incentivise businesses that want to invest in their machinery, plant and people

Improve tailored finance availability for concept development and innovative start-up businesses

Tackle the skills shortages: Ensure education reform is driven by the realities

of the labour market and the long-term needs of future employers

Deliver immigration policy that enables businesses to recruit for the skills they need for the short, medium and long-term

Through policy and statements, ensure a genuine parity of esteem for vocational against academic routes into employment

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Guiding principles for exiting the European Union

As the United Kingdom exits the European Union, the following principles must be at the centre of its negotiations to ensure the best deal and continued success for East Midlands businesses.

Trade: Fund an expanded trade mission and

trade fairs programme Ensure meaningful consultation with

business on priority markets Secure best possible terms of trade with EU,

including transitional agreements for existing Free Trade Agreements

People: Ensure future immigration policy enables

business to meet skills needs with minimal bureaucracy, costs or barriers.

Taxation and customs: Give a clear transition period for complex indirect

tax issues facing business and trading partners Work with business to design future customs

procedures at borders

Regulation: Maintain stability in the regulatory market and

ensure any great repeal act incorporates clear timelines to avoid piecemeal changes

Funding: In addition to guaranteeing programmes co-

funded with European Union funding, maintain UK access to the European Investment Bank

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Working with decision-makers

East Midlands Chamber will always work constructively with its MPs, wider Government and local politicians. It can provide case studies, economic data and business insight into the key issues that elected-representatives need to address. It does this through a number of mechanisms, including:

Regular meetings with businesses and MPs in their constituencies

Annual sessions in Westminster

Joint-secretariat of the East Midlands All-Party Parliamentary Groups

Quarterly briefings on economic performance and broader policy issues

Expert input into specific policy debates

An open door policy to MPs and local authorities wanting to consult with the Chamber

To contact the Chamber on its work with decision-makers please email policy@emc-dnl.co.uk or call 0333 320 0333 ext 2231

About the ChamberEast Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) has over 4,000 members, making it the largest Midlands-based business representation group. Led by a board consisting of representative members, the Chamber’s vision is to enhance East Midlands businesses.

East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire Nottinghamshire Leicestershire)

Email: info@emc-dnl.co.uk Web: www.emc-dnl.co.uk

Tel: 0333 320 0333

Good for Business