I love trains, always have and always will. However, for the last two years, perpetual shuttles between the two great cities of Coventry and Birmingham have tested even my lifelong love.

Since the embryonic discussions over two years ago to form a shadow combined authority for the West Midlands, through the negotiation of our initial devolution deal and most recently working with the first directly elected mayor for the region, Andy Street, I have divided my time and energy as chief executive between Coventry City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).

Now I have returned to Coventry full-time, handing over to Deborah Cadman, it is a perfect time to reflect on the past couple of years. A little indulgent, you might think, but as senior leaders in our organisations and places, we rarely make time and space to reflect on the learning. This indulgence is more important now because of the unsettled context we find ourselves in.