Background
The West Midlands Economic Strategy (WMES): Delivering Advantage sets out what the West Midlands region needs to do to improve its economic performance. This is by both building on our region's strengths and addressing the market failures that hold our economy back.
To reflect the changes that occur in our region over time, it is important to review the Strategy in full every three years to ensure that it remains relevant and continues to provide the right solutions.
The updated West Midlands Economic Strategy, due to be published in 2007, will be the first time we look beyond the original milestone of 2010. The Strategy will once again set out the agreed actions needed for the region to be recognised as world class by 2010. However, it will also look forward to 2020 and establish what more our region needs to do to continue to improve its economic performance.
Purpose
The purpose of this website is to provide partners with the information they may need to understand the WMES review process; to provide updates on progress and to show how people can contribute to the project. Below is information you may find useful, downloads explaining the initial stages of the process and contact details.
Phases
This review is a twenty-one month project. It requires firstly the compilation of a robust evidence base to inform the context, content and direction of the new West Midlands Economic Strategy.
The overall phasing and timing of the work required to review and update the WMES through 2006 and into 2007 is as follows:
Please click on active links for details of the respective phase.
| Phase 1: Building the evidence base (complete) | March to July 2006 |
| Phase 2: Developing policy choices (complete) | August to October 2006 |
| Phase 3: Consultation on policy choices (complete) | November 2006 to February 2007 |
| Phase 4: Consultation on draft Strategy (complete) | May to July 2007 |
| Phase 5: Publication | April and December 2007 |
Sustainability & Environmental Assessment
Cutting across the five phases and integrated into the WMES review is the Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment of the emerging Strategy. Employing a tried and tested 'Integrated SA/SEA Methodology' - The requirement to carry out a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) are distinct. However, it is possible to satisfy both, through a single appraisal process.
More on Sustainability & Environmental Assessment
Roles and responsibilities
The Government asks Advantage West Midlands , together with the West Midlands Regional Assembly , to lead the development of the West Midlands Economic Strategy and subsequent updates. However what goes into the Strategy and how it is delivered is up to the region. We need to work now as a region to ensure that the Strategy is right for the West Midlands and commands the wide support of all partners on the key economic issues requiring action.
Partners are asked to assist throughout the key phases of the work: the development of the evidence base; consultation on policy choices developed against the evidence base; and on the draft of the Strategy itself. In addition, a Regional Reference Group of public, private and voluntary sector organisations will provide advice on emerging issues and messages to Advantage West Midlands Board, as the review progresses. Further information on membership, terms of reference, reports and papers, and meetings are available here.
Downloads
View Downloads for the latest intelligence and reports that have been generated . This area of the site is continually updated.
General information:
This is the current West Midlands Economic Strategy which is now under review.
This leaflet announces the formal launch of the Strategy review and consultation exercise.
Guidance to Regional Development Agencies on preparing the Regional Economic Strategies.
