As part of my work with the IOD I was invited to a consultation meeting along with many other business representatives last week with Leeds City Council. My involvement was to represent the small business perspective. The consultation process and report is being prepared to outline the City's Agenda for improved Economic Performance with the aim of being published shortly after the Election in May/June 2010. Further details are on the Leeds City Council website It was a very interesting meeting to understand what the new strategy is for Leeds Economic development and the considerations and input that is being received across the Leeds community since it was last updated in 1999. Key questions were considered with the main one being how does Leeds continue to become a destination of choice in the North over the next 10 years or so and what do people need to proposer. The focus is to build on the strengths and opportunities whilst tackle areas of under-performance. There is a theme being developed of Great place, skilled people and competitive business. A key statement is to continue to encourage Leeds as a city of enterprise developing skills, infrastructure and helping businesses to start up and grow There are many factors that have already been discussed and considered during the consultation period and people gave their view at the meeting. I did raise a specific issue about the changing landscape and future needs | | " .. more and more people are stepping away from the corporate life and building businesses. Technology has changed and enabled many things including the ability to collaborate across boundaries and allow many people to do more for less due to skill set convergence. I think together with Leeds as a great place, entrepreneurs look for core like minded people to collaborate with directly and networks to develop work opportunities. Besides this people also collaborate beyond 'the place' to where it makes economic sense and this can be overseas. The place therefore has to be appealing and flexible enough for both the work/life balance to keep people here and keep the positive spirit that Leeds has definitely generated over the last 15 years " | I think it has been interesting process to reflect on the place where I live and the benefits that Leeds brings to work and life. Most important of all its the people that you interactive with that make you realise that Leeds is a place where you can prosper. If you do have any views I would would be very pleased to hear about them and help do my bit for Leeds development.
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