Thursday 21st March 2024 was the final board meeting of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP). Coincidentally a decade of impact driven engagement for me personally, volunteering with numerous others, to help make our region a better place.
I remember the launch of the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) – I still have a draft copy – and how attracted I was to getting involved, as I believed back then the NELEP would make a difference.
The first-of-its-kind body public and private partnership, representing the region, that would enable the delivery of a Strategic Economic Plan delivering more and better jobs. For all.
Having experienced and demonstrated the power of collaboration, working through various local strategic partnerships since 2003, and representing the private sector across Tyne and Wear, I knew what could be achieved when there is a joint ambition.
Applying, unsuccessfully, to become a volunteer board member on more than one occasion. Go figure! Despite the sting of rejection, I remained committed to supporting the partnership approach and even more determined to be involved.
Engaging with the enigmatic Paul Woolston, the original Chair, through various associated initiatives in 2014, I eventually joined the Business Support Board co-chaired by Paul Varley and Gillian Southern.
That is when I began to truly appreciate the true value of the LEP and ambition of the SEP, especially as an a-political, unbiased and independent body that has always had the regions’ best intentions at its core.
Since then, with the unwavering personal and professional support from Andrew Hodgson OBE who appointed me as a Main Board member, I have had the privilege of Chairing the Business Advisory Board. Working with an amazing array of partners from across the public and private sector and an operational team led by an extremely capable Colin Bell. As the SME representative for our region on the Main board it has been an honour representing the economic heart and life-line of our regional economy.
Some of the highlights:
Launching and re-launching the Growth Hub. Learning version 1.0 and 2.0 with 3.0 becoming a national exemplar
Working on the regional skills strategy with Bob Paton CBE and supporting the establishment of the first University Technical College in Newcastle. The skills team rolling out the Gatsby Benchmarks and once again leading the skills development revolution.
Connecting with various regional, national and international stakeholders and introducing them to the LEP. Going on to developing long term relationships helping deliver the SEP, including Microsoft, Bdaily, Ward Hadaway, Deloitte’s, Aon, Police Cyber Task Force, Entrepreneurs Forum, Newcastle College to name but a few.
Championing a number of initiatives and programmes including the MIT Regional Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme, Scale-up North East, High Potential Start-up, Access to Finance, Inclusion and International Trade.
Being the Private Sector Representative on the European Fund that delivered £1bn worth of funding support investing in developing all of our sector strengths from technology to offshore, automative to advance manufacturing.
Seeing thousands of new and better jobs being created and the North East positioned as the most proud, passionate and positive region in the UK.
So, as I reflect on the monumental opportunity that the Mayoral Election brings. I hope that the work of the LEP, led by Helen Golightly and expertly chaired by Lucy Winskell OBE, together with all of the effort of partners and partnership working is recognised, and not dismantled to reinvent the wheel. I am very much taking a leap of faith into the future and hope that we can adopt and adapt the power of three – to better communicate, collaborate and celebrate our wonderful region.
Ammar Mirza CBE is Chair & Founder of Asian Business Connexions, Chair of the NELEP Business Growth Board, Honorary Colonel of 101 Regiment RA and holds various positions across the public and private sectors.