Local Enterprise Partnership

LEP banner

Successful bid for Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent

We are pleased to report the recent announcement by Government that Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent's bid to form a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been successful. The creation of this new LEP follows the Government’s abolition of the Regional Development Agencies which will be closed down by 2012.

This new business promotion partnership will provide a solid local focus for economic regeneration, representing local businesses in pushing for a better business deal for the area. It will also work with neighbouring partnerships where there is a clear mutual benefit and everyone gains.

As it grows it will forge partnerships between business, the public sector, higher and further education, community enterprises and other partners to deliver economic success.

Members at the first LEP shadow board meeting elected business representative Jim Rickard to serve as their chairman. Until his recent retirement Mr. Rickard was managing director of Michelin.

He said "Our aim as a Local Enterprise Partnership is for growth in the economy, which will come from the private sector. We want more employment opportunities and for our people to be equipped to do those jobs - through the right training and development."

The first task for the LEP is to formulate a bid for the first round of regional growth funding.

Want to find out more?

The LEP have launched an independent website http://www.stokestaffslep.org.uk/|||. It will become the main repository for information on how the LEP is progressing, and will eventually include case studies and all the key documents.

Your input needed

We need you on board, so please register your interest in helping shape the project as it grows over the months and years ahead, email steve.burrows@staffordshire.gov.uk|||

Background to the formation of the LEP

To put the creation of the new LEP in context here is a letter from the Local Government Minister Eric Pickles and a statement from Philip Atkins, Leader of Staffordshire County Council: