Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Firth, Councillor Pryor, Councillor Byford, Councillor Ross-Shaw, Councillor Waller, Amir Hussain, Martin Booth, Mike Danby, Richard Paxman, Andy Peterson, Simon Wright, Lee Viney, Dr Peter O’Brien, Neville Young and Professor Nick Plant .

Sue Cooke declared that the University of Huddersfield was a partner in the made smarter bid.

There were no items which required the exemption of the press or public.

Members noted a report which set out the governance arrangements for the Committee as agreed at the Combined Authority at its annual meeting.

Members considered the role of the Committee and it’s focus on supporting businesses in the region but also emphasised the importance of other areas such as skills and the need to link up with the ither Committees.

Members discussed their shared committee to inclusive growth and the need for it to be interwoven through the work of the committee.

Resolved: That the governance arrangements be noted.

The Committee considered a report that provided an update on the latest economic and business intelligence in the region.

Members emphasised the importance economic reporting and good data to identify the base performance in the region to target interventions and monitor performance.

Members had the following questions and comments:

·       The chance to focus on the retail, leisure and tourism sector since funding no longer prohibited intervention in the business to consumer sector.

·       The need to define part-time work and consider it differently. Some have chosen to work part-time during the pandemic for a better work/life balance.

·       The widespread impact of the reversal of the Universal Credit uplift in the region – with up to 56% of families in the region to be affected.

·       The need to understand what new working patterns, e.g., hybrid working, will mean for the region.

·       The increase in people categorised as ‘inactive’ – those not employed, not retired, and not looking for employment.

·       That the resilience of businesses in the region was vital – particularly the interplay of attracting new staff and promoting a hybrid working offer to become an employer of choice.

·       The need to reach BAME businesses with business support offer.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update in Mayoral pledge activity in relation to the Business Innovation and Economy Committee. £500000 had been approved by the Combined Authority to progress work to support the supporting local businesses pledge.

Members made the following comments:

·       Member were very supportive of the Mayoral pledges and looked forward to

·       That possible areas to support with development funding was the leisure and tourism sectors.

·       Another area for intervention was in improving broadband in towns and rural areas. Broadband was nationally funded, so it required a lobbying function from the committee.

·       The interplay between the pledge on supporting business and the prioritise skills and training pledge and consequently the importance of joining up the work of the corresponding committees.

·       A focus should be maintained on innovation. It was suggested that work could be undertaken to measure, the uptake of R&D tax credits across the region and broker support to SMEs to aid their application for R&D tax credits .

Resolved: That the Mayoral pledges and the committee’s feedback be noted.

The Committee considered a report that provided an update on the delivery of the current business support and innovation programmes.

Members noted that the Business Accelerator Fund was nearing completion of a detailed procurement exercise. The Made Smarter pilot for the Yorkshire and Humber area was also in the process of a procurement exercise and delivery was expected to commence in November 2021.

The Committee also noted the Entrepreneurship Programme with workstreams 1 and 2 in delivery and workstream 3 to commence shortly. The Asian SME Growth Programme which aimed to build capacity and value within an underrepresented group.

Connecting Innovation had been in delivery since April 2020 and 17 applications for funding had been received.

Members made the following comments:

·       Whether the region could do more to retain recent graduates and help SMEs recruit graduates.

·       That the business support programmes over the last 7 years had been a brilliant success and provided a foundation for further interventions.

·       It was noted that there was a high level of uncertainty. Particularly around funding, awaiting announcements from the comprehensive spending review and the community renewal fund.

·       Members discussed the possibility of looking at other sources of funding to plug ang gaps in government funding.

Resolved:

(i)              That the progress on the delivery of Business Support and Innovation services be noted

(ii)             That the position on the development of the West Yorkshire Business Accelerator Fund be noted

Members considered a report that provided an update on the development of a potential new business productivity programme. A strategic outline business case would be developed to secure funding for delivery from April 2022 onwards.

Members supported the continued development of a new business productivity programme. Productivity was a key driver for business growth as well as the creation of strategic and resilient jobs which could provide people in the region with a platform for growth and development.  

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Members considered a report set out the purpose and scope of an emerging trade strategy.

The strategy would focus on empowering SMEs the region to access international markets. The trade strategy would be presented to the Combined Authority for endorsement

Members discussed the complexity of international trade and the need for specific technical advice. Members also discussed the higher education sector as being a key strength in the region which could be brough out more in the trade strategy.

It was noted that the trade strategy would be supported by individual delivery plans. A wide ranging consultation was ongoing, and members were encouraged to get in touch if there had any further feedback.

Resolved:

(i)              That the West Yorkshire Trade Strategy be endorsed.

(ii)             That the progress made to date on the delivery of trade and investment activity be noted.

The Committee considered a report that provided and update on the development on the regions Health Innovation agenda and the emerging Healthtech Strategy.

The draft healthtech strategy was attached at appendix 1 to the submitted report and members recognised that the region was well placed because of the strengths of its industry, university, and health assets.

Members discussed the need to narrow in on specific assets to maximise advantage. Members noted the launch of the Healthtech catalyst, a networking programme aimed at providing support across the system and brokering connections across and between the ecosystems.

Resolved: That the report be noted.