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Growing the economy: John Lewis' Andy Street | Growing the economy: John Lewis' Andy Street |
(about 21 hours later) | |
Article written by Patrick Burns Political editor, Midlands | Article written by Patrick Burns Political editor, Midlands |
"Leadership is not about doing the popular thing. It's about doing the right thing." | "Leadership is not about doing the popular thing. It's about doing the right thing." |
The words of Andy Street, the managing director of John Lewis, who is now also the chairman of the Birmingham and Solihull Local Economic Partnership. | |
You will have gathered that Mr Street knows a thing or two about partnerships. | You will have gathered that Mr Street knows a thing or two about partnerships. |
The 76,500 staff in his 29 department stores, six John Lewis "at home" outlets and online business are not employees. | The 76,500 staff in his 29 department stores, six John Lewis "at home" outlets and online business are not employees. |
They are href="http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/" title="John Lewis Partnership website" >partners in the UK's biggest example of worker co-ownership. | |
No wonder the business has been quoted in support of everything from the Big Society and social entrepreneurship to a more inclusive approach to employment practices. | No wonder the business has been quoted in support of everything from the Big Society and social entrepreneurship to a more inclusive approach to employment practices. |
Street level | Street level |
On this Sunday's Politics Show, I will be talking to Andy Street about his chairmanship of the Birmingham and Solihull LEP. | On this Sunday's Politics Show, I will be talking to Andy Street about his chairmanship of the Birmingham and Solihull LEP. |
It's no mean challenge with unemployment in the region nudging 10% and one-in-five 16 to 24 year-olds looking for work. | It's no mean challenge with unemployment in the region nudging 10% and one-in-five 16 to 24 year-olds looking for work. |
Not even the strong recovery by leading firms like Jaguar Land Rover and this week's better-than-expected growth figures can hide the fact that many smaller businesses are fighting for survival. | Not even the strong recovery by leading firms like Jaguar Land Rover and this week's better-than-expected growth figures can hide the fact that many smaller businesses are fighting for survival. |
Mr Street is certainly doing his bit for his home town. | Mr Street is certainly doing his bit for his home town. |
He is an Old Boy of the city's King Edward's School and has an apartment in that triumph of 'statement architecture', the 25-storey Cube building which now towers over Gas Street Basin. | He is an Old Boy of the city's King Edward's School and has an apartment in that triumph of 'statement architecture', the 25-storey Cube building which now towers over Gas Street Basin. |
John Lewis is currently building its biggest store outside London, due to open in 2014 as the focal point of the New Street Station redevelopment. | John Lewis is currently building its biggest store outside London, due to open in 2014 as the focal point of the New Street Station redevelopment. |
His LEP also bid successfully for the city centre to be designated a Local Enterprise Zone, benefiting from streamlined planning regulations, improved broadband access and other incentives for business start ups. | His LEP also bid successfully for the city centre to be designated a Local Enterprise Zone, benefiting from streamlined planning regulations, improved broadband access and other incentives for business start ups. |
Collateral benefits? | Collateral benefits? |
But critics of enterprise zones say they do not really create new jobs or investment opportunities, they merely relocate them. | But critics of enterprise zones say they do not really create new jobs or investment opportunities, they merely relocate them. |
The Merry Hill Shopping Centre stands as a gleaming example of an enterprise zone established under the last Conservative government. | The Merry Hill Shopping Centre stands as a gleaming example of an enterprise zone established under the last Conservative government. |
But local high streets in neighbouring Black Country towns have seen precious little collateral benefit. | But local high streets in neighbouring Black Country towns have seen precious little collateral benefit. |
There is no shortage of challenges, then, for the man who has accepted the Chancellor's rallying cry to 'strain every sinew' to get the economy growing strongly again. | There is no shortage of challenges, then, for the man who has accepted the Chancellor's rallying cry to 'strain every sinew' to get the economy growing strongly again. |
Find out what he makes of them on the Politics Show from 12.00 on BBC One on Sunday 6 November 2011. | Find out what he makes of them on the Politics Show from 12.00 on BBC One on Sunday 6 November 2011. |
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