Businesses are being asked to give their views as to what extent national infrastructure spending underpins local business and council investment.
The request comes from the Midlands Engine partnership who are responding to an inquiry into the wider social and economic benefits and opportunities of high-profile investment schemes led by the East Midlands All-Party Parliamentary Group.
Information gathered by the inquiry will be used by MPs to help Government and the National Infrastructure Commission address the region’s infrastructure deficit, resulting in social and economic benefits for people and places.
Although the main focus is on the East Midlands region there is crossover into neighbouring Staffordshire since investment to the east can have an impact on the county.
For example, motorway junction improvements at J24 of the M1 could have positive impact on the movement of vehicles along the A50.
To share views via a questionnaire, businesses are asked to use this link.
Improvements along the A50/500 road corridor will be discussed at a round table event being organised by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce for 19 June.
Meanwhile the Staffordshire Chambers are working with partners in the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire to develop an investment and infrastructure skills group.
With projects such as HS2, the West Midlands Interchange and the forecast growth in house building providing investment stimulus, business leaders and skills providers will be given the chance to engage with infrastructure project sponsors and leading project employers.
The aim is to highlight the requirements and opportunities (including goods, services, skills required and emerging legislation that is driving change) that will be flowing from the investments.
Local businesses will be supported to develop their own workforce, so they are able to tender or engage in local/national infrastructure projects successfully.
