Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
Following government’s announcement on 28 October that Lincolnshire’s bid to establish a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was approved, twelve business and civic leaders came together to form the inaugural Board of the LEP.
Initially the Greater Lincolnshire LEP is based on the administrative area covered by Lincolnshire County Council, but will work closely with neighbouring areas, including North East and North Lincolnshire as well as the LEPs covering Nottinghamshire and Greater Peterborough.
The Board has agreed that it will not take on a legal personality at this stage, but agreed Terms of Reference under which it will operate. The LEP will work with local partners to deliver its objectives. There will be a strong link with stakeholders through links with existing and emerging forums (such as the Lincolnshire & Rutland Employment & Skills Board) and task and finish groups.
The Board will meet quarterly: meetings will be held in private, but Minutes from meetings will be published on this website.
The LEP’s Board met for the first time on 7 December, and agreed that it would produce a “Prospectus for Action” based around three priority areas:
- Sustainable Rural Communities: Greater Lincolnshire is largely rural, with much of the population living in market towns, coastal communities and isolated rural settlements. Individuals and businesses looking to grow in these areas face particular challenges, and the LEP will work with partners and local businesses and entrepreneurs to provide support they need to thrive.
- Greater Lincolnshire Resource Strategy: Greater Lincolnshire has considerable assets in our land, heritage and built environment. The LEP will look for ways to make the best use of these assets to drive our economy forward, for example developing our agri-food and tourism industries. It will also explore how we can make our County more resilient in the face of the challenges from climate change.
- Sub Regional Economic Driver: The western side of the County includes the city of Lincoln and the towns of Gainsborough and Grantham which have all been designated by Government as Growth Points. These areas of growth, along with other market towns such as Sleaford and their hinterland, provide an opportunity to grow the economy on the back of existing industries and the potential of the A1/A46 road network and East Coast railway line.
Please follow the link to the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership website for more details.
