Pictured above: Richard Boot
Business needs more action and less talk on regional government
from whoever wins the coming General Election, Institute of
Directors West Midlands regional chairman Richard Boot has
warned.
As he prepares to hand over the baton to businessman John Rider
after three years in the post, Mr Boot called for "a solution that
suits us here in the West Midlands".
Mr Rider, an IoD member for 16 years, takes over on April 1.
Mr Boot said his term in office had been "a roller coaster of a
time, particularly as the full force of the economic downturn hit
home".
And he cautioned: "It was an impact which, sadly, revealed that
on so many counts we do fare very badly in the West Midlands
compared with other UK and European regions.
"Nothing, of course, is simple. I wish that the cause of this
underperformance was clear and readily fixable. It is a
deep-rooted, complex and multi-faceted problem but perhaps no great
surprise in the absence of a clear industrial policy from
successive Governments, a lack of cohesive long-term planning and
seemingly interminable delays getting key issues executed.
"But business itself must do more to generate growth and respond
to the changes in the global economy and to seize the opportunities
created by new technologies and markets. Both private and public
sector players have all made great progress in many areas and at
this critical time the stakeholders in the regional economy need to
work and pull together to get us back on track."
Saying the IoD always sought to work closely with Government and
local agencies and had thrown its weight behind the business
community coming together to focus its efforts through Business
Voice WM, he went on: "Whichever party wins at the next election,
the Government needs to produce an early and clear model for the
development of economic strategy and an efficient mechanism for
regional government and executing large and complex projects. No
more talking, please!
"Whether this includes a redefined role for our regional
development agency or a better and constructive engagement with
local government , we need a solution that suits us here in the
West Midlands and continues the achievements already made.
"I have no doubt that business organisations and people need to
be even more involved, particularly those individuals with the
power base and resource of large organisations, if we are to
resolve the systemic problems in the region. "Notwithstanding this
turmoil, the IoD is, I think, in good shape, with an active events
programme across the region and ambitious plans in place to
continue to support its membership."
Mr Boot was not new to the role of chairman when he took over in
2007 as he had previously held the post with the former Midland
branch of the IoD from 1994 to 1997.
At that time he was a partner with KPMG's Birmingham office. He
is now chairman of Active Human Capital Group, the Birmingham and
London-based executive recruitment and board advisory business.
John Phillips, the IoD's regional director, said Mr Boot had
been a first-rate ambassador.
He noted: "Our standing in the business community and with the
Government, Advantage West Midlands and key regional organisations
has never been better."
Mr Boot has also been the IoD's national representative on the
Regional Economic Council, jointly chaired by the Chancellor and
Businessn Secretary Lord Mandelson.
Mr Rider has a wide business experience across the UK and
Europe.
He has held three large group-wide roles and 10 operating board
positions. He now operates as an interim director and runs his own
consultancy.