Businesses Must Have Their Say on LEP Plan

News release

15th October 2012

Businesses have been urged to give their feedback on a three-year plan to grow the Greater Lincolnshire economy launched at a major business summit.

Ursula Lidbetter MBE, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), has called for firms to have their say on the 2013 to 2016 business plan to ensure the organisation is addressing the issues they see as important to the area.

The call for action was made during the first ever Greater Lincolnshire LEP Business Summit at Market Rasen Racecourse on Friday, October 12th.

Priorities for the LEP include lobbying for key infrastructure to be put in place such as a direct rail link between Lincoln and London, good services for utilities such as water, gas and electricity, increasing broadband coverage across the county and tackling flooding and water management.

Ms Lidbetter said: “We want to know about anything that is out there which is stopping you from developing and growing your business. Sometimes it’s just the simple things that we need to know about to change the way of thinking and doing business.”

“The priorities we’ve outlined are just some of the areas we’ve identified and we want to hear from you to make sure we are going in the right direction. There are some themes which have already come through strongly: one is a need for clarity through the planning application process as there is a real willingness between public and private sector to make things happen.

“If there are barriers that stop a project happening, or laws preventing development, then tell us what you’re facing and we will convey that to the Government.

“We want to make sure that businesses across Greater Lincolnshire feel comfortable with the priorities we’ve outlined, so we’re asking for feedback and offering people who weren’t there a chance to have their say over the coming month.”

Delegates at the event also heard from Chairman of the LEP Network, David Frost CBE, DL, on the role of LEPs in their local economies and were give the chance to ask questions.

Mr Frost said there are lots of issues for LEP’s to address: planning, infrastructure, broadband, education and skills. “It’s the public and private sector working together that will determine future of local economies. LEPs need to come up with a long-term strategy for growth, building on the strengths and opportunities of each area.”

Representatives from Market Rasen BIG, which is helping to run the town’s Portas Pilot – a scheme spearheaded by shopping guru and TV presenter Mary Portas – also gave a talk on the project so far.

Businesses at the event were encouraged to take advantage of a further £9 million of loan funding which is being made available through the Invest and Grow Fund to kickstart stalled projects such as building developments, transport improvements and flood defences.

The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership Business plan can be found here. Have your say before 1st November by emailing GLLEPsecretariat@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership is a new body led by the private sector which aims to improve conditions for infrastructure and doing business in the Greater Lincolnshire area.

• One of the first LEPs to be established in the UK, the Greater Lincolnshire LEP covers a large geographical area with a population of over one million and a diverse range of industries, from ports and logistics to farming, tourism and engineering.

• It includes North and North-East Lincolnshire and is controlled by a LEP board made up of leading figures in the public and private sector.

• For more information about the Greater Lincolnshire LEP please contact Ruth Carver or Carolyn Tuscher at the LEP Secretariat on 01522 550515, or visit www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney

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