Birmingham’s business leaders have thrown their weight behind the £1 billion devolution deal announced for the region today.
The long-awaited deal means the “ Greater Birmingham ” region will get cash to improve transport services, training and help for employers with £36 million a year from the Government for the new West Midlands Combined Authority .
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce of Commerce (GBCC) said it was ready to offer the support of the private business sector and to ensure that “this epoch-making” agreement was a “huge success” for the region.
It added that it was now imperative that the new region attracted the right candidates to compete for the role of elected mayor of the region, which will be in place by 2017.
Paul Faulkner, chief executive of the GBCC, said: “This a hugely significant step in the evolution of the West Midlands and one in which the business community is ready to throw its full weight in support.
“It’s often said that business is not restricted by local authority boundary lines and this deal offers the WMCA councils a chance to deliver joined up strategy and activity that reflects the real economy of the area.”
Andy Street, chairman of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, said: the deal was “hugely welcome”.
He added: “It has many impressive features, among which confirmation that the city centre Enterprise Zone will be extended around the Curzon St HS2 terminal is important. The proposed deal will also support the delivery of the wider HS2 Growth Strategy; critical to realising all the benefits of this once in a generation investment.
“Critically, the deal will not just support infrastructure but also seek to address key supply-side elements of the economy: improving skills levels through the devolution of 19+ adults skills funding, enhancing business support through a new devolved approach and delivering a more integrated model for investment and trade. Taken together, this deal will support the West Midlands to maximise its areas of strength and address its challenges, so having a major impact on the local economy and cementing our leadership of the national recovery.”
