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Over 300 business leaders join GFirst LEP at 2015 Annual Review
GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) brought together over three hundred of the county’s business leaders this morning at their fourth Annual Review; their biggest event yet.
10 June 2015
Focusing the spotlight on the £77.5 million brought into the county through the Gloucestershire Growth Deal, Dr Diane Savory OBE DL, Chair, and David Owen, Chief Executive, took attendees on a journey of the last twelve months’ outstanding achievements brought together by the LEP, alongside its public, private and voluntary sector partners.
Diane said: “Gloucestershire is the most successful LEP in the country; the only LEP to receive everything it asked for – and more – from Government. I’m hugely proud of the work and the success that the LEP and the public, private and voluntary sectors have achieved to secure over £77 million, as a result of our ambitious business plan for the county. However, we must not be complacent; the journey isn’t over and we must aspire to even greater economic growth in Gloucestershire.
The support of the business community over the past twelve months has been overwhelming. I’d like to thank the business people of Gloucestershire for their time and inspiration – each and every minute is enormously appreciated.”
David added: “The recent general election result means that LEPs are now firmly entrenched in the growth infrastructure of England and there will be opportunities from Government for Gloucestershire to compete for further investment. To meet that challenge, we need the ongoing support of local businesses, ensuring we secure the future investment needed to grow, and enabling our businesses to be successful on a global stage.”
Attendees were walked through the six districts of Gloucestershire, with updates for each on the difference that the £77.5 million Growth Deal will make to all corners of the county.
Diane and David spoke to key business people in the audience, including Kevin Hamblin, Principal of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, to discuss the evolution of the GREEN project; Neill Ricketts, Chief Executive of Versarien, on the impact Growth Deal funding will have in the Forest of Dean; Kevan Blackadder on the retails aims for Cheltenham; Chris Gaskell from the Royal Agricultural University regarding the exciting plans for the Agri-Tech Innovation Centre; Darren Lewington from Gloucestershire Airport to discuss development of new hanger facilities; Laura Crabb from the University of Gloucestershire on the first six months of The Growth Hub; Mark Gale on the impact Gloucester Services has had on the local community; Jon Whitbread on the transport hub for Gloucester and Rob Loveday, from GE Aviation who recently joined the LEP Board to represent large employer organisations in Gloucestershire.
They also spoke with people whose businesses have felt the benefit of LEP activities, including Lee Summers from Elmrep, whose business worked with the Employment Team to secure work placements, and Polly Barnfield, who was one of the early users to receive the support of the Growth Hub services for her business, Maybe.
The Annual Review took place at the newly opened Gloucester Services Southbound – a project supported by GFirst LEP to the tune of £3 million with a loan from their infrastructure fund. The event saw business leaders from all sectors come together to network and hear more about the Growth Deal; including the services of the recently opened Growth Hub, soon to be available countywide through Growth Hub spokes, the GREEN project at the former Berkeley power station, further development of the Growth Zone on the M5 corridor, and delivery of key transport projects across Gloucestershire.
Speaking about what the future holds for the county, David said: “GFirst LEP wants to work with all of you to ensure that the county remains ahead of the game, secures the future investment needed to continue to grow – not least of all the money required to fix the missing link on the A417 at Nettleton Bottom – and that our businesses can continue to be successful on a global stage.
The first battle in securing the £77.5 million, over 100% of our ask, has been won. The LEP really need your innovative ideas for growth, so that we can construct a great pipeline of projects that will continue to see us competing internationally.
There will be opportunities from Government for Gloucestershire to compete for further investment and Gloucestershire must be ready to meet that challenge. We need your ongoing help and support to do this.”
View the videos from the day:
GFirst LEP - the past 20 years
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Special thanks to the speakers who supported us in our Annual Review
Sarah Dunning - CEO Westmorland
Kevan Balckadder - Cheltenham Business Partnership Manager
Chris Gaskell - Principal of the Royal Agricultural University
Lee Summers - Managing Director of Elmrep
Rob Loveday - Growth Partnership Director at GE Aviation
Darren Lewington - Operations Director at Gloucestershire Airport
Kevin Hamblin - Principal of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College
Polly Barnfield OBE - Maybe
Laura Crabb - Business Development Director of the University of Gloucestershire
Neill Ricketts - Chief Executive of Versarien
Mark Gale - CEO of Gloucestershire Gateway Trust
Jon Whitbread - Partner of Harrison Clark Rickerbys
GFirst LEP works in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors to grow the economy of Gloucestershire, by stimulating job creation, skills development and helping new and existing businesses to flourish
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