Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and Midlands Engine Ministerial Champion) joined fellow parliamentarians and Midlands Engine Chairman Sir John Peace at the first Annual General Meeting of the Midlands Engine All-Party Parliamentary Group. 

At the AGM, Darren Henry MP and Lord Ravensdale were re-elected as Co-Chairs of the Midlands Engine APPG, whilst Lord Coaker, Theo Clarke MP and Lord Hunt were added to the Group's Vice Chairs. Lord Taylor, Baroness Burt, Baroness Verma, Kate Griffiths MP, Jane Stevenson MP, Karl McCartney MP and Martin Vickers MP were also re-elected as Vice Chairs. 

On the call, the Secretary of State spoke about the major opportunities for inward investment in our region including: two Freeports: the East Midlands Global Gateway at East Midlands Airport; and the Humber Ports Freeport in Immingham, Lincolnshire; in addition to the East Midlands Development Corporation. 

Reflecting on a successful year of advocacy by the APPG, the Midlands Engine Ministerial Champion also noted the relocation of several Government departments to the Midlands, and looked forward to a future investment conference for our region in 2022. 

Sir John Peace, Midlands Engine Chairman, also addressed the AGM and thanked parliamentarians for all that they have done to support investment in the region, and commended the work of the officers of the Group, particularly the leadership of Darren Henry MP and Lord Ravensdale. 

Finally, the AGM noted its thanks to Lilian Greenwood MP, who served as a Vice Chair and Chair of the Transport Subgroup for the first year of the APPG's existence, a post she is relinquishing due to shadow ministerial commitments. 

The next full meeting of the APPG will be in September, but there will be Subgroups focused on Energy and the Commonwealth Games in the intervening period.