WIREDGOV

LEP leaders from around the country have given their reaction to the government's Industrial Strategy White Paper, below is a crossection of their views: 

Christine Gaskell, MBE, DL, Chair, Cheshire and Warrington LEP, and LEP Review Panel member;

“LEPs welcome publication of the White Paper on Industrial Strategy, and the government’s commitment to their key role in driving up productivity, leading on Local Industrial Strategies, and supporting local businesses through the LEP network of Growth Hubs to scale up and grow.  

“Together with their local partners from the private and public sectors, LEPs role in local places across England will help deliver the future infrastructure, technology, skills, jobs, and housing that business needs. Getting it right at local level is vital. If our local economies are not effective, we won’t have an effective national economy – and that means driving up productivity. The new Council of Local Enterprise Partnership Chairs, led by the Prime Minister, will be a vital part in enabling us to deliver that.

“LEPs are entering a new phase of their development as they meet the challenges of productivity growth, and the focus on strengthening their future role is vital to that. As we face a new economic landscape, with the challenges and opportunities that Brexit brings, there has never been a more critical time for LEPs to build on their success to help deliver a Britain that really is fit for the future.”  

Peter Richardson, Chair, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership:

“It is good to see that many of the ambitions expressed in the Industrial Strategy reflect things our area is already doing and that the consultation has listened to calls from business, particularly around the need for more local control of economic strategy.

“As a strong economic area and wider region, there will be a major role for us to play in helping deliver on the aspirations set out in the Industrial Strategy.”

Nick Pulley, Chair, Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP):

“We are delighted that the Government remains firmly committed to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), and has confidence in our ability to set clearly defined activities and objectives for our area’s economic success.

“From next year, the Prime Minister will chair a biannual ‘Council of Local Enterprise Partnership Chairs’. This will provide an opportunity for LEP leaders to inform national policy decisions.”

Tim Pile, Chair, Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP:

“It recognises the important role of LEPs – as private sector-led partnerships – in supporting local growth through the creation of local Industrial Strategies, which will be led by Mayoral Combined Authorities where they exist, as in the West Midlands. The Strategy also announced a new £115 million Strength in Places Fund, which will support the growth of science and innovation in local areas.

“GBSLEP welcomes the Government’s ongoing commitment to LEPs, its intention to involve LEPs more closely in national policy decisions, and continued funding for Growth Hubs. This will enable us to build on Greater Birmingham’s strengths, capture new opportunities to drive economic growth across our region, and address the challenges we are working hard to overcome in areas such as skills development.”

Jonathan Browning, Chair, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the WMCA Strategic Economic Plan Board Chair;

“This matches our ambitions for the future of Coventry and Warwickshire since we are focused on three key areas which fit in with the Industrial Strategy.

“We are determined to build on our global reputation in the automotive sector particularly in battery and connected vehicle programmes, the digital industry in which we are very strong right across the patch, while we are also committed to investing in Coventry and our surrounding towns to improve transport and inward investment.

“It reinforces the intention of the WMCA, West Midlands Mayor and LEPs to work together to deliver this shared ambition for the region.”

Andrew M Smith, Chair, Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local  Enterprsie Partnership (BTV LEP):

“Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprsie Partnership welcomes the publication of the Industrial Strategy and the recognition of the role Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are already undertaking in driving economically led growth and will play in leading the delivery of the Industrial Strategy.”

“In addition, we are pleased to see that many of the points highlighted within the BTVLEP consultation response are included within the final strategy document and in particular the need to support areas with high levels of productivity such as ours - to further increase innovation, support international trade and improve connectivity to help all businesses deliver their full economic potential.” 

 “We welcome the commitment to additional and sustained funding to help LEPs delivery strategy objectives and the commitment of the Prime Minister to meet with LEP Chairs for a bi-annual council to inform future national policy making.”