Midlands Engine

Midlands Engine
Name	Midlands Engine
Formation	2016
Type	Regional development partnership
Headquarters	Birmingham
Region served	East Midlands, West Midlands
Leader title	Chair
Leader name	Dan Jarvis

Midlands Engine is a regional growth partnership focused on coordinating investment, infrastructure, skills and trade across the East Midlands and West Midlands of England. Launched in 2016, it brought together civic leaders, local authorities, combined authorities, business groups and educational institutions to promote jobs, exports and productivity across cities such as Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Coventry. The initiative links devolved administrations, metro mayors and bodies representing manufacturing clusters, logistics corridors and research hubs to attract national and international funding.

History

The initiative was announced amid debates over post-2010 regional rebalancing and followed earlier place-based programmes including Local Enterprise Partnership reforms and the Northern Powerhouse concept. Early coalition partners included city councils from Birmingham City Council, Derby City Council, Nottingham City Council and unitary authorities across Warwickshire and Leicestershire. Initial strategic framing drew on comparative models such as the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and lessons from the London Plan. The Midlands Engine established thematic pillars for infrastructure, skills, innovation and exports and convened stakeholder groups from chambers such as the Confederation of British Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses. Over time, the partnership sought closer alignment with combined authorities led by mayors such as Andy Street (West Midlands) and Ben Houchen (Tees Valley cross-links), and coordinated bids to central funds such as the National Infrastructure Commission recommendations and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations.

Governance and Organization

The partnership operates through a board comprising civic leaders, business executives and representatives from higher education, including universities like University of Birmingham, University of Nottingham, Coventry University and Loughborough University. Local enterprise partnerships such as Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, D2N2 LEP and Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (where cross-boundary projects arise) engage with the governance structure. The organisation is chaired by figures who also hold mayoral or parliamentary office and reports to a secretariat based in Birmingham City Centre. Delivery is coordinated via sub-boards addressing transport, skills and innovation, drawing members from transport bodies such as Transport for West Midlands and infrastructure investors including Network Rail and National Highways. Engagement with national departments like the Department for Business and Trade and funding instruments such as the British Business Bank complements local authority funding and university research councils including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Economic Strategy and Priorities

The strategic priorities emphasise advanced manufacturing clusters centred on towns such as Coventry and Derby, logistics corridors along the M6, M1 and M42 motorways, and aerospace and automotive ecosystems linked to firms such as Rolls-Royce Holdings and suppliers serving Jaguar Land Rover. Innovation and research commercialisation leverage strengths at institutions like Aston University and research parks such as Keele University Science Park. Skills development strategies coordinate further education colleges including South and City College Birmingham and apprenticeships supported by trade unions and employer groups such as Make UK. Export promotion targets trading partners through consortia and trade missions to markets including Germany, China and United States business networks, often coordinated with export finance instruments from bodies such as UK Export Finance.

Key Projects and Investments

Major infrastructure and regeneration projects linked to the partnership include coordinated support for rail upgrades on the Midland Main Line, station redevelopments at St Pancras catchment areas and urban renewal in precincts like Birmingham Smithfield. Investment themes include inward investment wins with multinational firms, research and development hubs such as the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre satellite collaborations, and enterprise zones established by city councils and LEPs. Transport investments reference connectivity schemes involving High Speed 2 proposals and enhancements to freight handling at East Midlands Airport and ports connected to the Mersey Ports logistics chain. Housing and placemaking pilots have been pursued in partnership with housing associations like Sanctuary Housing and development firms such as Balfour Beatty.

Regional Impact and Outcomes

Measured outcomes point to job creation in sectors including advanced manufacturing, logistics and professional services concentrated in city-regions such as Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham. Universities have reported increases in business collaborations and spinouts tied to regional funding streams, with institutions like University of Warwick engaged in translational research. Improved rail and road schemes have aimed to reduce journey times between hubs such as Leicester and London King's Cross while freight improvements seek to increase throughput at East Midlands Gateway. The partnership has influenced mayoral investment plans and aligned LEP strategies, contributing to inward investment decisions and cluster resilience in supply chains linked to multinational firms including Toyota, Bombardier and AstraZeneca facilities in the Midlands.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics argue the model risks duplication with combined authorities like the West Midlands Combined Authority and may dilute accountability between councils, LEPs and central departments including the Treasury. Some local campaign groups and think tanks such as Localis have questioned transparency around project appraisal, procurement decisions involving contractors like Carillion (noting its collapse) and the distribution of public subsidies. Debates have arisen over prioritisation between urban regeneration in Birmingham and smaller towns across counties like Staffordshire and Rutland, and over the balance between supporting established firms versus small and medium-sized enterprises represented by groups such as the Federation of Small Businesses. Environmental organisations and local MPs have scrutinised transport projects with reference to national climate commitments and planning appeals heard by the Planning Inspectorate.

Category:Economy of the Midlands