Is TVEP phoenixing from the coalition fires |
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It was fascinating today at what was pitched as the TVCC “Thames Valley” Enterprise Partnership Consultation.
Only a few months ago Thames Valley Economic Partnership (TVEP) was thrown out by the new coalition as a waste of resources and today I listened as the new Thames Valley Enterprise Partnership is being born. The King is dead, long live the King. There was definitely a mixed bag of people in the room. If the guest list represents the final turnout then around half represented council, education or government in some shape or form while the balance appeared to represent businesses. Many of whom would be involved in training and other activities previously emptying the SEEDA pot which will no longer exist. There is an opportunity here to change the way things are done in the future but there are many hangovers from previous government initiatives which heavily weigh on the local government officials as they look to represent their local business owners while at the same time looking to keep power within their own town halls. A number of representatives took the floor and addressed the audience but it has to be said, none more eloquent and thorough than David Knowles-Leak (dkl) who strongly recommended that we needed all to fight for local recognition under one banner, and that is best served by something recognised on a National level, as we are addressing the UK government at this time. (TVEP was binned partially because anything other than London is not recognised by those who live in other countries. Apart from of course Liverpool for the Beatles and Manchester for some football team owned and fleeced immorally by Americans with their own agenda.) Running a small business that offers strategic advice to growing businesses and also in his capacity of Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, dkl suggested that any talk of diluting the impact of a solid Thames Valley force by creating sub groups based on Oxford, Berkshire & Bucks would ultimately end in failure and that we needed to all stick together to ensure we, the Thames Valley, is a logical first choice when government is looking where to direct inward investment. I also took the opportunity to point out on behalf of small businesses, in my capacity as editor of Business in Berkshire that we needed to ensure that if businesses are to lead the way in this new devolution of power that UK owned businesses should be favoured over International organisations looking to take any profit back to their homelands. The reason we are struggling at this time is because there is little loyalty to the Nation, historically when the government coffers were open, it was a race to grab what you could and siphon it off to the core business bank account with minimal consideration for the wider impact. What we need to do is to start ensuring that where ever possible we spend our resources locally with UK based organisations who in turn spend theirs locally. This ensures there is cash flowing around the local economy and local businesses thrive. A process known as The Regional Economical Multiplier Effect. Might I suggest that we lobby companies to keep their business activities local and reinforce this when you have a choice, make your decision based less on the day to day financial direct cost of the service but focus more on the greater community good. This involves boycotting companies that choose to outsource much of their activity to the Far East because it’s better for their shareholders. This does not help the local economy and needs to be addressed. So bring on the new King, TVEP but ensure it is about UK business prosperity and not simply corporate share indices. Jon Davey Social Media Director Business in Berkshire 01753 852904 |
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