BLACK COUNTRY CONSORTIUM

We provide strategic support, advice and on occasion leadership across the interconnected key areas for growth within the Black Country by:

• Nurturing and articulating Black Country Development needs, opportunities and solutions;
• Aiding the Black Country through the provision of strategic support including secretariat functions;
• Provision and application of intelligence to inform, support and influence decision-making;
• Promoting the Black Country by raising it's profile and perception.  

 
BCC Ltd has developed a unique enabling role, connecting, developing and brokering networks and collaborative approaches to economic development, drawing on its own knowledge of businesses – ranging from multi nationals to medium, small and micro businesses, the sectors and markets they operate within, the intermediary agents that support them, Government and its agencies, LEPS and local authorities across the UK where we have economic alliances and critically the Black Country local authorities, HE/FE institutions and the third sector.
 
Since 1999 the importance of an evidence based approach to strategy formulation has been at forefront of Black Country thinking.  The establishment of the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) was seen as critical to providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic challenges and opportunities in the Black Country and the wider West Midlands area.  The team provides rigorous, best in class, economic analysis across the three key SEP themes of people, businesses and place.  This intelligence is used to inform different stages of the policy-making cycle, including: critical assessment of the socioeconomic challenges in the Black Country; evidence-based strategy and policy development; project and programme design and feasibility; programme management; and monitoring and evaluation.
 
Within the Repowering the Black Country project the Black Country Consortium will lead and govern the project through the Black Country Energy Steering Group, chaired by LEP Board Member and Chair Tom Westley, Chairman of Westley Group.  The Economic Intelligence Unit will also lead Work Package 2 (WP2) to ensure the project is properly integrated into local area planning processes and strategies and makes most efficient use of existing public sector-owned datasets.

Team Members