Hereford Times - 14th January 2016 - Page 95
Hereford Times - 14th January 2016 - Page 95
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Image Details
| Date | 14/01/2016 |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Format | |
| Language | English |
| Area | Hereford Times |
| Collection Holder | |
| Date of Publication | 14th January 2016 |
| Transcription |
Leger .‘ 2 leg-p lg; herefordtlmescom Thursday, January 14, 2016 THE HEREFORD TlMES , As the Marches LEP heads into its fifth year in 2016, Chairman Graham Wynn OBE, examines how far the regional economy has come... When the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership was launched, it was the vision of the private sector—led board to create the conditions for economic growth across the region. It aimed to remove barriers to rowth and to work with businesses to evelop a vibrant regional economy, where sustainable jobs were being created. It pledged to put business at the heart of its work and find solutions for better connectivity, whether transport infrastructure or the availability of high speed broadband. And it committed to working with central Government, to ensure that as Westminster devolved power and decision-making to the regions, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin secured its fair share of the national funding pot. So how are we domg? The economy of the Marches is redicted to grow to £177 billion by 020. When the LEP was created, towards the end of the global financial crisis, the region contributed just over £11 billion to the UK economy. This growth, expected to top £13.5 billion this year, is a result not only of renewed confidence and more stable markets, but step-by—step the LEP, working with its three local authority partners and the Herefordshire Business Board under the leadership of Frank Myers MBE, is tackling the issues which matter. We set out our Strategic Economic Plan, said where our priorities lay after Tackling New LEP board members Christian Dangerfield, Sonia Roberts, chairman Graham W ynn. Peter Brmm. and Duncan Va consulting our businesses, and as a result secured more than £75 million for our Growth Deal projects. These are now being delivered — with major multi-million transport infrastructure schemes such as the Hereford City Centre Transport Scheme already under way. In the last five years we bid for, and secured, Enterprise l Zone status for the 72-hectarc site at Rotherwas, Skylon Park. This has seen significant progress in 2015. with job—creating developments and new investors all progressing on site. Milestone A significant milestone in the last six months has been the launch of our Marches Growth Hub. 3 single point 01‘ mes access to support and inlOrmation for our businesses. all together in one place for the first time. online. We're about to launch an extension to this — with a dedicated Employer Skills Search facility, to help addresx businesses' concerns about finding rclcuint and sufficient training and qualifications to develop their \t'orkforces. the issues which matter Skills 1" 'llL" mending r- lactng both our Skil'» LHllll‘ittlilC‘. currentl; recentl' t.dl'llC';i out. l.l:l’ atlrungs' ll“ . fl. ml our protludr-at'w . ‘ ,1 . Good news But there i~ gm»; BK report I'l‘lit.“ out ma 1'7 potential lot-rte local ~.uppl§ ncv. tecltnuiu-C the skills twat Sl;lll\ Board. cmplmcrx and to main: \Ut‘c the, buwncw needs The LEP 1 Midlands l;i lor economic rcgiur. launchce .. been unrkr Liipx in (1 \cc signmcant jun t (it pound~ of prawn; l Lzlwl t’eprexet’it the \‘mu LEPx on the ' Btml'd. CThUl‘ll‘i to these undo” .cla vl tact; progress. But ll our l’l.1fli1;‘l’\, .Ji‘itl continuum in Sili'wiklii‘ft'. m rt. . .. ,. ' ; ill the right timeout»: 95 We can help. MARCHES GROWTH HUB Call us or go online and search more than 100 relevant products and services available to support your business. To learn more visit www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk or call 03435 6000 2727 -1- |
| Newspaper name | Hereford Times |