Statement from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership:
After nearly five years in post, David Ralph (pictured) has stepped down as Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.
D2N2 oversees the preparation and delivery of the economic strategy for the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire area; home to about 2.2million people and approximately 70,000 businesses.
Today David said: “When I came to the East Midlands in 2013 the economy was only just showing the green shoots of recovery from a major recession. As part of that recovery process Local Enterprise Partnerships were being formed across the country to focus on delivering growth; uniting the public and private sectors, and other key stakeholders such as universities and the FE sector, in creating a coherent and investible Strategic Economic Plan for the area, and to translate this Strategy into real delivery on the ground.
“Through this work the LEP has secured over £500million of funding and we’re well ahead to deliver the LEP’s over-arching objective of helping create 55,000 private sector jobs. D2N2 has also been hugely influential in raising the profile and status of its area as an engine of growth across the Midlands and nationally, not least through delivery of the HS2 East Midlands Growth Strategy, published in October (2017).
“With a ‘refreshed’ D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan close to completion, most of our available EU and Government-backed funding committed to high quality projects, and the publication of the Government’s Industrial Strategy strengthening LEPs’ role nationally, I believe it is now the right time to move on and give someone else the opportunity to take the D2N2 LEP into its next phase.
“I am particularly indebted to my team, who have stuck with me throughout; and also to the many individuals, companies, colleagues and the D2N2 Board who have helped me over the past five years. I wish them and the LEP well for the future.
“At my first public meeting back in 2013, I said that residents and communities throughout Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire should be very proud of where they live and work. There are great companies here doing great things, and they and the people who live here are a great inspiration.”
David will not return to his role after the Christmas 2017 break.
Peter Richardson, Chair of the D2N2 LEP, said: “I’d like to place on record the LEP’s thanks to David for his tireless commitment to D2N2 since his appointment in 2013.
“The D2N2 Board agreed that he could be released from his contract at the end of this year.
“This development gives the Board and senior management team an opportunity to review the LEP’s future structure and strategy. David’s successor will be announced shortly but, in the interim, I can assure you that it is very much business as usual.”
