Working Together to Develop a Successful EU Region: Strategy, Partnership and Funding

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Working Together to Develop a Successful EU
RegionStrategy, Partnership and Funding

• Case Study The West Midlands

Vicki Hone European Transnational Advisor West
Midlands in Europe Office

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Our Region the West Midlands

• Is the Heart of England the hub of the
  transport infrastructure.
• Has 5.3m people, 2.5m of whom are economically
  active, 40 of whom are aged over 45.
• Has an urban conurbation centred on Birmingham
  surrounded by a region of market towns and
  attractive rural areas.
• Home of the Industrial Revolution and has
  retained a tremendous tradition of manufacturing,
  especially engineering, and enterprise.
• Cultural wealth Shakespeare, Tolkein, Johnson,
  Elgar.

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The Regions Economy

• Legacy of the Industrial Revolution.
  Manufacturing still a strong sector but having to
  diversify and re-structure.
• Famous old brands e.g. Cadbury, Wedgwood sit
  alongside major foreign investors e.g. Fujitsu,
  Vodafone.
• New thriving sectors e.g. environmental
  technologies, media/creative industries.
• Gross value added 69bn (100bn approx) i.e. 8
  of UK economy.
• Workforce of 2.5m men earn 480 per week, women
  365 per week.
• Great disparities in life experience and
  well-being within small areas of the region

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The Challenges We Face

• Globalisation.
• Demographic change Issues of age and ethnicity.
• Mobility of people.
• Electronic/digital revolution.
• Environmental threats.
• Re-structuring of economies . Consequence for
  workers.
• Particular issues in the West Midlands
• Regeneration of specific areas and communities.
• Skills deficits.
• Transport being at the heart of the system
  leads to congestion

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Principles Guiding Regional Economic Strategies

• builds on the last Regional Economic Strategy and
  on evaluations to be undertaken of current RES
  policies and activities
• has a clear measurable vision. (e.g.close the GVA
  gap with the EU)
• provides a picture of what the economy will look
  like when this vision is achieved
• is based on a sound agreed analysis of the
  economic working of the region, its barriers to
  growth. This must include the relationships
  between the regional strategy and any sub
  regional, city regional and other RDAs strategies
  innovation, international,tourism etc.
• is mutually reinforcing with other Regional
  Strategies
• ties together the Regional, Sub Regional
  City Region strategies in a coherent way
• has buy in from a wide range of partners across
  the region
• is a clear evidence base against which to make
  investment decisions
• defines policies to be pursued and activities to
  implement those policies with clear measurable
  targets.
• takes full account of all agreed strategies in
  existence within the RDA and the region
• integrates regional policies such as sustainable
  development
• from the outset

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The West Midland Economic Strategy (2004-2010)

• Drawn together by the Regional Development
  Agency, Advantage West Midlands. But a broad
  group of partner organisations subscribed to the
  strategy.
• Four pillars
• Developing a diverse and dynamic business base.
• Promoting a learning and skilful region.
• Creating the conditions for growth.
• Regenerating communities in the West Midlands.
• Three principles
• Sustainable development.
• Urban and rural renaissance.
• Equality, diversity and inclusion.

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Economic Strategy (continued)

• Three major delivery mechanisms
• Regeneration Zones.
• High Technology corridors.
• Business Clusters.
• Strategy and its implementation influenced by a
  number of high level partnerships
• Regional Skills Partnership.
• Regional Enterprise Board.
• Regional Innovation and Technology Council.
• Regional Transport Partnership.
• Regional Planning Partnership.
• Etc, etc

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The RES Consultation Process

• Led by Advantage West Midlands
• Three forms of consultation
• Meetings with regional and sub-regional
  partnerships
• Key organisations - Board member Executive to
  lead
• Devise Partnership Matrix
• Develop timetable of meetings based on Matrix
• Special events Board-led dinners regional
  events
• Generally available on web-site interactively

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How is Economic Progress Resourced?

• Obviously the private sector invests in wealth
  creation.
• It is the role of public agencies to create the
  right environment for commercial success.
• Public policy is derived at local, regional,
  national and European Union level . funding
  sources reflect this.
• The challenge for regional partners is to acquire
  the resources available, to ensure they
  complement each other and that they are fully and
  effectively utilised.

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EU Funding in Regional Economic Strategies

• Integrated Priorities and Measures for action
• Identification of best funding stream.
• Assess excellence and opportunity
• Focus on programmes with best fit
• Develop capacity throughout the regional
  partnership
• Support structures to enable access to funding

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EXAMPLE OF WEST MIDLANDS
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European working post 2006

• Funding
• Structural
• FP67
• Education
• CIP
• Policy
• Lisbon / ERA / Bologna
• Transnational Cooperation

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Look at major areas of funding

• STRUCTURAL FUNDS - Heading 1B  
• Based on a programme approach
• Implemented at the regional level
• ERDF, ESF, EAGGF FIFG currently
• ERDF,ESF, EARDF from 2007-2013
• Convergence, Competitiveness and Employment
• and Territorial Cooperation Objectives
• EUROPEAN FUNDS - Heading 1A  
• Based on a project approach
• Operated at the European level

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Thank you

• For further information contact
• vicki.hone_at_westmidlandsineurope.org