The name of the new Local Enterprise Partnership for the Birmingham region has now been agreed.

It will be known as the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP, embodying an area which also covers Bromsgrove, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth.

The agreement was reached at the LEP's development board meeting this week and interim chairman Bridget Blow said: "The legal name of the LEP will include all of its geographical locations. But it will now be known as the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP." 

The organisation is driving ahead with its programme to recruit a permanent chairman and executive board. Advertisements were being placed in the regional media this week.

The LEP is already driving ahead to spell out how to apply for backing from the Regional Growth Fund, which nationally is worth £1.4 billion. A series of workshops are planned so that businesses and other organisations are fully informed when the time comes to apply."

The board proper will now consist of 17 members, two more than originally planned - an independent business person as chairman plus eight non-executive members from the business community, seven from local authorities and a representative from the education and university sectors.

"The government has empowered us to create our own way of doing this and we want to recruit creative and motivated business people who can make the LEP work.

"We have already had tremendous support from all of the councils, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Wragge and Co and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group, all on a voluntary basis. We need as much help as possible to ensure we get everything right and I urge interested business people to contact me.

"The LEP is all about wealth creation through jobs and entrepreneurship in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull area. Support from the business community is vital."

Councillor Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "We are really encouraged by the shared ambition and real sense common purpose amongst everyone involved."  

PricewaterhouseCoopers has been providing strategic advice and support to the board and the chair. Mark Smith, regional chair for PwC, said:  

"While the scope, powers and remit of LEPs are still being worked out, it is clear that LEPs will need private sector involvement if they are to gain credibility both in the region and nationally. It was with this in mind, that we were keen to provide assistance to the LEP on a range of topics at the critical start-up stage."

The LEP will now adopt a company limited by guarantee structure and in future board meetings will take place throughout the LEP region. The next is in Lichfield.