A stable platform allows LEPs to continue success

Dr Diane Savory OBE DL, Chair of GFirst LEP, and David Owen, Chief Executive, give us their take on the new Government and what this means for Local Enterprise Partnerships.

Diane Savory: In the four years since LEPs were formed, GFirst LEP has really pushed ahead and I’m hugely proud of our status as the most successful LEP in the country - the only one to receive the full amount of funding requested in the Growth Deals last year; £77.5 million for Gloucestershire.

We are delighted that the Government recognises the achievements we have delivered as GFirst LEP and I am confident that the new Government will indicate stability for LEPs in the forthcoming five years.

Granting this stable platform will enable us to continue our success, with the implementation of the 33 projects funded within the Growth Deal.

I fully welcome further devolution of the responsibilities for driving local economic growth to LEPs and we are committed to working with Government to ensure that any future arrangements continue to build on LEPs’ successes over the past four years.

David Owen: LEPs were created to bring together business to drive sustainable private sector-led growth and job creation and GFirst LEP has done just that.

Moving forward, I welcome greater responsibilities and freedoms from Government to promote business growth, giving us the opportunity to deliver more on a local level.

We’ve worked with the LEP Network to set out ten key priorities for LEPs to put to the new Government, to enable LEPs to operate at maximum efficiency and bring a business approach to economic growth:

1. LEP’s role is to support private sector growth and productivity

2. LEPs provide leadership and a voice for business

3. Let LEPs get on with the job

4. LEPs seek greater devolution

5. A joint evolution between LEPs and Government

6. Recognise local needs - there is no “one size fits all”

7. Celebrate the model of 39 LEPs – it works locally

8. LEPs urge greater cross-departmental co-ordination

9. Don’t underestimate the expectations on LEP leadership

10. Adequately resource LEPs

I entirely support all of these points, and the key one for Gloucestershire at this stage is ensuring that LEPs are able to get on with the task at hand.

Through our Strategic Economic Plan, we have very clear objectives and programmes which we are implementing swiftly and effectively, we’ve built strong local partnerships that have resulted in the most successful Growth Deal in the country.

Any substantial changes to the LEP landscape could threaten our fantastic track record and risk distracting LEPs from their central purpose of fostering business growth and creating jobs.

LEPs will be a fundamental part of delivering jobs and growth in England and I look forward to Gloucestershire continuing to push forward with economic growth, meeting challenges head on.

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