D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – has set out its goal to deliver 55,000 more jobs in the D2N2 area within ten years.
But as the Strategy for Growth plan was finally unveiled at Pride Park Stadium, Derby, Chief Executive David Ralph said this was just the beginning.
Consultation with Government will continue to strike a Growth Deal as D2N2 strives to earn at least its fair share of the Single Pot which stands at £10bn – £2bn-a-year over five years – to be distributed among 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships.
D2N2 must also submit its business case by the end of September to show how it can best use the recently announced 249.7m euro (£213.4m) allocation of EU Growth Programme funding.
Mr Ralph said: “We have been working hard to reach this point but this is just the start. Last week the board approved the priorities for the next 12 months and we have an EU Workshop on July 22.
“We will be working hard with Government to secure a healthy Growth Deal and at the end of this month the D2N2 Local Transport Board will announce the successful transport projects for the area, which will total £46.8m.
“We have to put a business plan together for the EU funding and we will be doing plenty of work with our partners around our sector plans, particularly on the low carbon, visitor economy and food and drink agendas.
“We will be working closely with the universities to leverage more innovation from them to ensure maximum benefit.
“Nearer Christmas, we will be bringing forward an updated version of the Growth Plan, as we look to put forward our Growth Deal. It is a busy time with a lot of hard work to do.
“It was a great way to launch our plan, after months of consultation. But I must reiterate, this is just the start.”
About 200 businesses and key stakeholders from the private and public sector attended the breakfast event.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, welcomed the plan. He said: “I’m delighted to welcome the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership growth plan, which will help businesses across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire continue to grow and thrive.
“It is a plan designed for local firms and will help create thousands of local jobs in the next ten years – just what the country needs to help recover from the heart attack our economy suffered. It is just what Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire need to drive local economic growth and exactly the kind of initiative I’m championing in Whitehall.”
D2N2 outlined its four strategic priorities for supporting enterprises. They are:
- Business Skills
- Innovation
- Finance
- Infrastructure
And the LEP has also determined six priority sectors. They are:
- Transport Equipment Manufacturing
- Medical and Bioscience
- Food and Drink Manufacturing
- Construction
- Visitor Economy
- Low Carbon Goods and Services
The Growth Plan will provide the framework for the Growth Deal D2N2 agrees with Government, with a submission expected later this year.
To download the full Growth Plan, click here
