When he agreed to take on the role of chairman of the Bradford Economic Partnership David Baldwin was clear that there needed to be key objectives in place before the new initiative was launched – and that those objectives were clear and achievable.
Looking back some nine months after the launch, he says the four stated key objectives have now been delivered or are in the process of being delivered.
And he also believes that the work of the Partnership, which took the place of the Producer City initiative, has helped bring the many groups working for the good of Bradford together to focus their energies in the same direction.
The partnership was formed co-ordinate and bring together the aims, ambitions, and resources of a range of partner organisations with a view to driving the economic strategy forward.
It is made up of team of senior leaders from local businesses, Bradford Council, the University of Bradford, the City Region LEP, and the Chamber of Commerce.
David, a former Bradford City chief executive who is now in the same role at Premiership side Burnley FC, says its role is to set the direction of future economic development and regeneration in Bradford.
He says in the period since it was launched, it had not only delivered on its key objectives, but it had also been involved in a number of short-term wins.
“We set four key objectives and they have all been delivered or are being delivered.”
Those were a clear economic strategy for Bradford; to look at marketing and how people perceive the district; to continue to petition for the Northern Powerhouse Rail link station in the city
“We are continuing the petition for the Northern Powerhouse Railway stop; we delivered the economic strategy; and Manufacturing Week was a really good demonstration of partnership that we were involved in.
DAVID, former Bradford City chief executive
“In terms of place marketing, people are now seeing more clearly what is being done. We are communicating the message across, and everybody is singing from the same hymn sheet.”
The partnership’s Made In Bradford website is set to play a key role in that communication process.
The economic strategy is now the cornerstone of ongoing work to bring more investment into the city and the district, and aims to add an additional £4 billion to an economy already worth £10 billion over the next 10 years, creating an additional 22,000 jobs for the local economy.
The short-term wins have included the part the Economic Partnership played in the Sparkling Bradford Christmas campaign and the continued expansion of the partnership’s skill base, with new people coming on board.
The Sparkling Bradford campaign demonstrated how the partnership was able to help bring organisations in the city together, pooling resources and talent.
“That collaborative working has been the cornerstone of what we are about and long may it continue,” he said.
“You can do better and you can do bigger if you pool your resources, and that’s what I’m trying to encourage. Sparkling Bradford was a perfect example of that, as was Manufacturing Week.”
He said the words of Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, who was keynote speaker at the launch of the partnership in March had struck a chord.
“You work in collaboration with each other. Sir Richard said there were there are things that Bradford needs from Leeds and a lot of things Leeds needs from Bradford. What you’ve got to do is find those win-wins, and that’s what we’ll continue to do,” he said.
Working closer with Leeds and the regional authorities was becoming more and more important, and he stressed the recent decision by Channel 4 to move its headquarters to Leeds was a prime example of this.
“I think that will be a big win-win for the area. The utilisation of workforces and skillsets will mean Bradford will benefit a lot.”
He said going forward, it was about slow and steady progress in carrying on the collaborative work and ensuring Bradford’s profile is raised.
“I think like any situation, its not a big bang, it’s a constant improvement process, a constant reaffirming of things that are happening. Not hiding our talents under a bushel, but telling a Bradford positive story,” he said.
“I’m a Bradford lad and the Bradford mentality is you don’t brag. But we have to tell people positive stories because that’s what inspires people.
“So I’m optimistic, but realistic, because I recognise this is a long journey, but as a journey its one that the team within Bradford wants to make happen with us all pointing in the same direction.
“We’ve set our stall out, we have a clear identity, we’ve cracked on with some stuff, and there is a sense there’s a groundswell that things are going in the right direction. But we still need a determination to keep pushing,
“We want to align everyone in the district to think the same way. We’ve got a clean identity. Team Bradford – Made In Bradford. We need to be proud of where we come from.”
