£100 million of investment will be used to make North Yorkshire and the East Riding one of the best places in the country to grow a small business. That’s the aim of the new Growth Strategy from the Local Enterprise Partnership for the area.
Barry Dodd, chair of the Enterprise Partnership said:
Harrogate is the happiest place in England, York is the best place to live and Yorkshire has been voted the best place to visit.”
That makes this a very attractive place which lures and retains some great people. We will ensure that the environment for growing a small business is equally as attractive.
The Partnership has reaffirmed it’s commitment to supporting the self employed and small business people who form the backbone of the areas economy.
David Kerfoot, Vice Chair of the Partnership said:
Small business has always been our focus.
Myself and the Board have said that since day one. Whilst we’ve done good things with next to no resources, we’ve matured and learnt from that and the timing is right to give us control over additional public funds. We will use these, along with our influence and networks, to create a better supported, better connected and more ambitious business community.
The Strategy also charts a path to making the most of food and energy production, dominant industries in the LEP area.
Barry Dodd said:
Food production and processing, along with energy generation, have long characterised our area. Looking to the future we will ensure that we capitalise on our world class assets in both fields. These will be our major growth opportunities.
The Enterprise Partnership has published the Growth Strategy, following a Government request for all LEPs to do so, in order to secure Government and EU funding from 2014/15 to 2019/2020. It’s publication marks the embrace of a broader agenda which also encompasses skills, transport and the development of towns and cities.
James Farrar, Chief Operating Officer said:
Whilst we’re taking on this broader agenda, we won’t be turning into another Regional Development Agency. We will create a Growth Team that uses and enhances that capacity of a range of delivery organisations, not the core LEP team.
Whilst the approach is very much business led, the Partnership received a strong lobby during the development of the Strategy on the need to reflect the impact of economic growth on society. The final publication has taken account of this, particularly through an expanded approach to Community Led Local Development, which builds on the lessons learnt from current LEADER partnerships.
The Strategy is available to view on the Enterprise Partnership website www.businessinspiredgrowth.com
Further Information
The York, North Yorkshire & East Riding Enterprise Partnership is a business led partnership with the public sector that helps businesses improve and grow, in order to create good quality sustainable jobs.
The Partnership is chaired by Barry Dodd, Chairman of the GSM Group. The Board comprises 10 private sector members and 5 Local Authority Leaders. http://www.businessinspiredgrowth.com/board-members/
The York North Yorkshire & East Riding Enterprise Partnership can also be referred to as the “Enterprise Partnership” the “Local Enterprise Partnership” or “the LEP”, but not YNYER LEP.
