Introduction
The North West Business Leadership Team (“NWBLT”) was formally launched by HRH The Prince of Wales at Blackburn in July 1989 following a joint initiative of Business in the Community and the Confederation of British Industry to promote private sector engagement in regional development. The NWBLT office was established in April 1990.
Some Team Members
Since that date NWBLT has brought together the region’s private sector leaders to exert their collective influence for the benefit of the whole North West. It is a unique regional entity, widely credited with successfully re-engaging major business leaders in helping to address the economic, social and environmental challenges facing North West England.
NWBLT works closely with bodies such as the Northwest Regional Development Agency (“NWDA”), the North West Regional Assembly (“NWRA”) and Government Office for the North West (“GONW”), providing strategic business input on the key issues facing the region as well as constructive criticism where it considers appropriate. For example, in recent years, NWBLT has performed a leading role in developing the regional scrutiny function, in line with the Regional Development Agency legislation. It has closely monitored NWDA’s performance as the region’s principal economic regeneration agency, thus helping to ensure that the North West’s economic strategy is being delivered effectively. It has also developed strong working relationships with key sub-regional agencies and partnerships.
NWDA has a statutory responsibility to produce an up-to-date Regional Economic Strategy (“RES”) every three years. The current update covers the period from 2006 to 2009. Meanwhile the NWRA has established a Regional Board with power to influence how over £700 million of central government regional funding will be spent in the North West each year. This is therefore an appropriate time for NWBLT to publish its own three year Action Plan. This Plan is intended to complement the new RES and inform the Regional Board, focussing on a small number of specific areas where the collective impact of NWBLT and its members can make the greatest difference. The principal areas addressed in the Plan are as follows:-
- Education for enterprise and employment;
- Strategic communications, including a high speed London rail link;
- Innovation and world-class research and development;
- Promoting the region nationally and internationally.
NWBLT is committed to work closely with relevant partners in each of these areas. The remainder of this Plan sets out the manner in which NWBLT plans to play its part in delivering a measurable difference to the region, so that by 2008 North West England will be increasingly recognised as: “A Great Place to do Business” and “A Region of Excellence for All to Enjoy”