The new Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership chair believes the ceremonial county offers the best way forward as a potential political-led break up of the Humber single entity looms.
Pat Doody has been revealed as the successor to Ursula Lidbetter OBE, and while the banking director is happy with the status quo - with South Bank authorities having a foot in both - that model is mooted to be for the axe.
If so, then retaining the critical mass of the county structure is a priority - with the will of the politicians there.
Mr Doody, who works for NatWest in Lincoln, said: “We are absolutely committed to Greater Lincolnshire, and geographically we see that, with Rob Waltham (leader of North Lincolnshire Council) and other politicians.
“The 'Humber to the Wash' has always been for us a strong identity, and it makes that critical mass, and it makes us a LEP that has some voice. We are here to work to government rules and whatever the designated way forward we will work with it and make the best of it, but we believe the strongest identity is the one that exists and that seems to play back to us from the people.”
Highlighting both Humber and Greater Lincolnshire working together on SHIIP - South Humber Industrial Investment Programme - Mr Doody said: “There is an economic debate to be had about the Humber, there is collaboration now and there are projects that are a good example of that on a substantial scale.
“If the government drive is not to have overlap, it would be far better for us, and natural, to come at it from the geographical way, to recognise it. It has been our culture, our history and economically too. Supply chain exists right across the county, whether it is the North and North East or further south.
“I have not been chair, and not been part of the discussions this far, but I am aware of government’s original intention and desire to make the Humber LEP part of the landscape. I don’t know what the plans are. We do need to make our views known, all we can do is recommend a course of action.”
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As reported when he was revealed as chair , Mr Doody has worked in a number of roles at NatWest for 42 years and has been based in Lincolnshire since 1990.
He joined the LEP as chair of the European Structural Investment Fund committee and has also served on the investment board and the employment and skills board. He is an advisory board member at the University of Lincoln’s International Business School, a former vice chair of the Lincoln College Group - where he was a governor for nine years - and a former chair of the steering group for Lincoln’s biannual digital arts festival Frequency.
He revels in the role the LEP fulfills.
“I have been on the board for five years and the thing that works well is the partnership with local government and business. It is a unique space to be in. You have tried and tested knolwedge in politics of decades, combined with business voice with own challenges and differing perspectives. That collaboration of people doing the right thing for an area is unique. All are trying to think what serves the area best.”
Enthusing about feasibility work on the A46 corridor - linking Grimsby with Bristol and the upgrading of the A1 to motorway status from Peterborough to Blyth in South Yorkshire - he said: “These big projects are important. The Greater Lincolnshire footprint gives us a 1.1 million population, an economy of scale. We’re the fourth largest LEP by size. That critical strength, coupled with working with partners, serves such projects well.
“Then we have all those on our doorstep too, be it the university campus, enterprise parks, etc.
“Lincolnshire Lakes (Scunthorpe new village development) is coming forward in a good way, we see regeneration of Scunthorpe town centre and the SHIIP project which has been very well received. There are a lot of really good projects right across the county and they are existing things, before we see the colour of levelling up money that government is talking about. It could be an interesting Budget or two.”
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And the pressing issue of the day is clear too.
“We believe in the steelworks and the place we had in the task force negotiations, we have and continue to have, is there. We want to be a working party as well. We want to support people who won’t have a role in the business, and we are working with DWP and the task force to provide support. There is European funding there for self employment opportunity.
“There is also a sense of interest and excitement - and it is hard to use that word with job losses involved - to get British Steel to become a sustainable business. If (Jingye Group) make the investment being talked about hopefully it will be a real game-changer.”