{ COAST TO CAPITAL INTERVIEW }
WORKING LUNCH WITH RON CRANK This month we had the pleasure of sitting down with the Chief Executive of Coast to Capital LEP, over a splendid lunch at Stanmer House in Falmer, to find out more about Coast to Capital and the man driving its progress. Interview by Maarten Hoffmann.
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oast to Capital is a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and, having signed a Growth Deal with central Government, it has begun a six-year programme of investment in jobs, infrastructure and transport in the region. Investment will go into major transport schemes, international trade and support for businesses across West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Lewes, East Surrey, Croydon and the Gatwick Diamond. The deal is worth £202m over the six years and begins with an investment of £44m of new funding for 2015/16. By 2035, it hopes to create 100,000 new jobs, increase international trade by £780m and increase regional output by £1.1bn There is little doubt that it is doing some remarkable things for businesses both large and small across the region along with significant infrastructure projects. We often criticise our politicians for never having had a real job and, therefore, failing to benefit from any real-world experience. Although not a politician, this claim cannot be laid at Ron’s door.
BEFORE WE EXPLORE THE LEP, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, RON? I have enjoyed a varied business life, having started with Grand Metropolitan and Mecca Leisure, where l achieved a management buy-out (MBO) for £8.5m. I also owned a hotel in the Lake District and then went on to establish a food manufacturing company, Signature Leisure, also via an MBO, with over 100 employees and a turnover of £5m. I joined West Sussex County Council in 2005 to develop a new team and economic strategy, and l am delighted to now take on the exciting challenge of Coast to Capital. HOW DID COAST TO CAPITAL COME INTO EXISTENCE? In June 2010, whilst I was working at West Sussex County Council (WSCC), a letter arrived from Eric Pickles and Vince Cable saying that they wanted to replace Regional Development Agencies (RDA). It is a natural development, and I’m not so bold as to say that LEPs will be around forever. WSCC saw this as a great opportunity and wanted to quickly determine our region and our partners. We talked to everyone and eventually came up
with the current strong partnership. Previously at WSCC, l had developed area partnerships, so WSCC was the first authority to invest in the Gatwick Diamond. I helped to develop the Coastal West Sussex Partnership by using a SEEDA programme called the Area Investment Framework, so we had something solid to build on there. Jon Rouse, CEO of Croydon Council, stated his desire for Croydon to join the partnership, and there then followed some useful debate over the name before we settled on Coast to Capital. We then submitted this to Government at the end of July 2010 and were called to London for the announcement in the Houses of Parliament. The new LEP was born. WHAT IS THE PRIMARY REMIT OF THE LEP? Jobs. We want to create 100,000 jobs in the next 25 years. That’s our banner, that’s our master. Everything we do will be dictated by how many jobs we can help to create. SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT? Through a focus on enterprise and international trade. In enterprise, with highgrowth businesses, supporting education and
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