Delegates at the last of D2N2’s current series of 2015 Business Breakfasts, in Newark today (November 25), were updated on the Local Enterprise Partnership’s work on European funding and Devolution.
The D2N2 LEP – a private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and other organisations which promotes economic growth and jobs creation across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – each year holds a series of free Business Breakfasts, to update the business and wider communities on its current and future projects.
Today’s (November 25) event was the last in a series of six autumn Breakfasts and was held at Kelham Hall. Previous business breakfasts were held at Chesterfield FC’s Proact Stadium, Retford Town Hall, Bakewell’s Agricultural Business Centre, The University of Derby’s Enterprise Centre and Nottingham’s New Art Exchange.
Today’s event featured D2N2 Chief Executive David Ralph and D2N2 Growth Plan Manager Matthew Wheatley, who spoke on five years of the D2N2 LEP and Devolution, as well as D2N2’s €249million European Structural and Investment Funding (ESIF) allocation.
David Ralph updated delegates on the latest progress on Devolution for the area; which D2N2, business and local authorities have been lobbying for for months. A deal is expected to be announced very shortly, which would see more powers transferred from Whitehall to the local area, helping it to better determine its own economic future.
With this being the day of the Comprehensive Spending Review, David also outlined his hopes for what would be announced; including further Local Growth Fund monies for the LEP Network, to be used to build infrastructure for economic growth, and greater clarity on the HS2 Route through the East Midlands.
Growth Plan Manager Matthew Wheatley outlined D2N2’s ESIF allocations, as well as calls for funding which are currently open, including a rural business support call, set to close this Friday (November 27).
For further information on the work of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, particularly on its promotion of European funding, and how it can help companies, see its website at www.d2n2lep.org/EUFunding
Media wanting further information about the work of the D2N2 LEP can contact Sean Kirby, D2N2 Communications Manager, on 0115 9578749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
