An announcement by Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark (pictured right) – assigning set ministers to be Local Growth Champions for England’s 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) – has been welcomed by the D2N2 LEP.
As part of Government’s industrial strategy for this financial year (2016/17), groups of LEPs spread across the country have been given a dedicated Minister from the new Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Ministers will build relationships with each LEP, acting as a point of contact for the LEPs to raise issues and also highlight successes which that they want Government to be aware of.
D2N2 is the LEP for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. It is a private sector-led partnership of businesses, local authorities, higher and further education providers, and community and voluntary organisations which promotes economic growth and jobs creation across its area.
Nick Hurd – Minister for Climate Change and Industry at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy formed last month (July) – will now be the assigned Minister for the D2N2 LEP as well as for the LEPs covering London, Leeds City Region, Sheffield City Region, Greater Lincolnshire, Leicester and Leicestershire, Humber, and the York and North Yorkshire areas.
Greg Clark said: “Government has helped transform the business landscape by putting power back into the hands of local communities and businesses to drive economic growth. To make sure every corner of the UK benefits, I am giving Ministers in my team geographic areas of responsibility so they can build on existing relationships, to better connect government policy with the businesses and industries we’re working with.
“This is part of our plan to build an economy that works for all. An effective industrial strategy has to recognise and take advantage of the differences and unique strengths that exist across the country, and I will be encouraging all my ministers to get out there and meet the people who know their area best.”
Peter Richardson, Chairman of the D2N2 LEP, added: “D2N2 welcomes any measure which gives us and our fellow LEPs around the country better access to Government, not only to address issues we face but to make sure that Ministers are aware of the very real benefits LEPs are bringing to the UK economy. I look forward to working with our new Minister, Nick Hurd, on continuing to help grow jobs and create new businesses in our area.”
For more information on the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, click here
For more information on the work of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership see its website at www.d2n2lep.org
Media wanting more information about this article can contact Sam Burbage, Social Media and Marketing Officer at the D2N2 LEP, on 0115 957 8254, or email: sam.burbage@d2n2lep.org
