Today (September 3, 2010), Durham County Council has responded to an invitation from the Government to submit plans for a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for the county.
The council’s proposition is about building on past successes as well as grasping the opportunity to lead economic transformation, through a more innovative approach, and in strong partnership with the business community of County Durham.
Our proposition will:
• Lead the economic transformation of County Durham.
• Work within a broader framework that recognises wider economic relations.
• Support national economic priorities to address the private/public sector balance.
• Establish a partnership to facilitate an efficient and effective transition that will maintain regeneration momentum and maximise opportunities.
• Utilise the expertise, drive and commitment of partners across a variety of sectors, including private, voluntary, public and educational.
• Generate cost effective returns on investment by operating a business model that maximises economic opportunities to meet local needs.
The key areas of activity will include:
• Agreeing priorities for developing critical infrastructure including business sites, transport, broadband and housing.
• Business support and growth and developing the Durham brand.
• Developing skills and knowledge, including tackling worklessness.
• Inspiring and facilitating an entrepreneurial culture through education from an early age.
Durham County Council Leader, Cllr Simon Henig, said: “The establishment of a County Durham Enterprise Partnership will allow the public and private sectors to develop the county’s economy and maximise Durham’s economic potential”
“I believe that through building on our current assets we can create the right economic conditions to attract the investment we need to deliver the very best for residents.”
“A Local Enterprise Partnership will provide the strong leadership and direction for the creation of high quality, sustainable, employment opportunities which allows our residents to prosper and encourages our young people to raise their aspirations and realise their future ambitions”
Ken Jarrold, CBE, Chair of the County Durham Economic Partnership said:” A Local Enterprise Partnership is an ideal way to build our economy for the future. Partners in County Durham have a proven track record of working together. Establishing a Local Enterprise Partnership will inject greater private sector expertise and help us to build momentum.”
The County Durham proposal is one of five LEPs covering the North East, tackling local economic priorities around housing, planning and growth in business and tourism.
Alongside these the North East is submitting a proposal which identifies six key areas which will complement these, which are:
• Promotion of productivity, enterprise and business growth through developing innovation and exploiting research and development capabilities.
• The development of sectors that are strategic to the UK and are clustered in the North East such as low carbon vehicles, offshore wind, chemicals and process industries and a range of other new industries.
• Supporting enquiries for new investment from both existing businesses and inward investors.
• Bidding for and programme managing the European Regional Development (and successor) funds, and RDPE.
• The development and delivery of new approach to financing and supporting business growth.
• Providing strategic input into other key areas linked to economic growth such as integrated transport and energy investment.
County Durham is fully committed to the proposed North East Economic Partnership by the Association of North East Councils and the Northern Business Forum.