The West of England’s strength in innovation and its high quality of life is being showcased in Westminster this afternoon with a giant map being unveiled to MPs, Lords and and other key government figures.
Compiled by the area’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the map and accompanying policy document champions the area’s success stories and future opportunities and will serve as a reference tool for regional business champions and national politicians. It is being launched this afternoon in the House of Commons.
Speaking at the London event is the LEP’s chair Colin Skellett and deputy chair Cllr Paul Crossley – who is also leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council – along with Nick Davies, founding chief executive of Neighbourly, the highly-successful Bath and Bristol-based social network firm that is transforming the way that companies contribute to community causes.
The map, entitled West of England – home of Knowledge, Innovation and Quality of Life, also outlines the opportunities and the LEP’s role in delivering economic growth in the area which covers Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
In the past year, the LEP has secured a total of £230.7m from the Government in Growth Deal funding for key projects in transport, infrastructure and business support to support its Strategic Economic Plan for 2015-2030. The LEP has also created a robust governance framework to ensure it is in the best position to deliver funding in the region: it has created a West of England Investment Board, which provides a ‘one front door’ approach to managing all funding sources coming in and out of the LEP.
Mr Skellett said: “The West of England contributes more to the UK’s GDP than any region outside of London and the South East. As a LEP we’ve broken new ground in the way industry, the public sector and academia work together and we have created a dynamic partnership with solid governance in place to deliver sustainable economic growth. This new map is a clear, visual representation of just what makes the West of England such a great place to live and work and the future opportunities the region offers for UK plc.”
Cllr Paul Crossley added: “This sets out just what a compelling case we have here in the West of England. We have a workforce educated way above the national average, leading universities, world-leading industry sectors, excellent connectivity in every sense and an un-paralleled quality of life. The LEP has provided strong governance and guidance for the region, and we look forward to delivering further on our ambitious plans.”
The Westminster event is being hosted by Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore, who said: “Over the course of this Government, Local Enterprise Partnerships have come to play a key role in driving forward the UK’s economic recovery, bringing together businesses and local authorities to determine what their local area needs most. LEPs bring cohesion and clarity and if they are to work effectively, collaboration is crucial. In the West of England we’re leading the way.
“Within my own constituency of Kingswood, the Bristol & Bath Science Park stands as a shining example of the great things that are being achieved through collaboration, with three leading universities coming together with public and private sectors to deliver a facility that showcases the strength and potential of the West of England’s knowledge economy.”
Nick Davies, who runs Neighbourly from the SETsquared facilities in Bath and Bristol – recognised as Europe’s leading business incubator – will speak on his firm’s success and the value of collaboration to deliver it.
Neighbourly is also set to become a partner of Bristol Green Capital and will dedicate an area of its website to low-carbon projects, demonstrating how collaboration in the region between public and private sectors can work. Launched in July 2014, Neighbourly has already overseen the raising of £760,502, 6,905 days pledged and over 200 projects backed.
Nick said: “For business growth to flourish, the positive atmosphere of partnership and connectivity between the public and private sectors and also between industry sectors is a key part of our success. Neighbourly is delighted to be able to support the LEP with the launch of its new map and we like to think we are a real example of an SME success story in the West of England, which can set an example to the rest of the UK.”
The event is being supported by First Great Western, which providing travel for the West of England LEP team from Bristol Temple Meads and Bath to London Paddington.
