<h2>Hi</h2>

October date for conference to improve local regulation

10 Sep 2012 12:37 PM

Two ‘pathfinder’ Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) will lead a national seminar on 31 October to improve regulation and stimulate growth. The event will aim to share best practice throughout the UK’s LEPs using workshops and case studies.

Ideas to be discussed at the seminar will include:

  • A single point of contact for local regulation via a web portal.
  • Regulators to tailor advice and approach to match the business lifecycle – from start-up, growth stage, mature.
  • ‘Regulation made simple’ – a straightforward explanation of the ‘who, why and how’ of how businesses are regulated.

The seminar has come about after businesses in Pathfinder LEPs expressed concern about their relationship with local regulators. Some are apprehensive of making contact with local officers or simply find it difficult to speak to the right person. Others cite the approach and attitude of regulatory services officers, and access to advice as problems for them.

The seminar for LEPs, business support organisations and regulators will take place from 9.30am on 31 October at Colmore Gate, Colmore Row, Birmingham. There is no charge for attendance. Bookings can be made at
http://regulatingforgrowth31102012.eventbrite.co.uk

Notes to editors:

1. For more information please contact Jo Barker, jo.barker@brdo.bis.gsi.gov.uk, 0121 226 4019.

2. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are led by local authorities and businesses across natural economic areas. They provide the vision, knowledge and strategic leadership needed to drive sustainable private sector growth and job creation in their area. More information on LEPs can be found here:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/economic-development/leps

3. The Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) is a streamlined independent body that ensures the voice of business is heard in regulation policy. It was created on 2 April 2012 (and was formerly known as the Local Better Regulation Office – LBRO).

4. BRDO is supporting regulatory initiatives within LEPs. It has published a discussion paper, Regulation and growth, which seeks to clarify the relationship between the two.


5. The Government's economic policy objective is to achieve 'strong, sustainable and balanced growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries.' It set four ambitions in the
‘Plan for Growth’ (PDF 1.7MB), published at Budget 2011:

  • To create the most competitive tax system in the G20
  • To make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business
  • To encourage investment and exports as a route to a more balanced economy
  • To create a more educated workforce that is the most flexible in Europe.

6. Work is underway across Government to achieve these ambitions, including progress on more than 250 measures as part of the Growth Review. Developing an Industrial Strategy gives new impetus to this work by providing businesses, investors and the public with more clarity about the long-term direction in which the Government wants the economy to travel

7. BIS's online newsroom contains the latest press notices and speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See
http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.