1. What is the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership?
The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is a creative collaboration of leaders from business, universities and local councils, who direct economic growth and drive job creation.
The region’s business base is broad and buoyant, with thriving towns and cities as well as excellent schools, colleges and universities.
The LEP was formed in 2011 to make Lancashire the location for business growth and inward investment. We aim to do this by ensuring all our companies have easy access to high-grade support services that promote sustainable expansion.
Since the LEP's inception in 2011, we have established and maintained a strong strategic focus. This has enabled us to secure a £1 Billion growth plan and bring forward over 50 major growth initiatives. Whilst all parts of Lancashire have benefited from these ambitious growth programmes and investment plans, half of these initiatives are within the five most deprived areas of the county, reflecting the LEP's ambition to drive inclusive economic growth.
2. Who are the LEP?
Lancashire Enterprise Partnership is led by a Board of 19 directors who contribute a wide range of expertise.
The majority are from the private sector, representing major employers and small and medium enterprises, while the public sector is represented by experts from higher education and political leaders from local authorities.
3. What has the LEP achieved?
We have a crucial role in coordinating the county's economic priorities. We aim to focus on opportunities that maximise job creation and growth, and whose benefits reach out across the county.
In 2011 the Board commissioned an independent review, undertaken by Professor Michael Parkinson of Liverpool John Moores University, to help identify what the main priorities should be. The review gathered evidence from a series of interviews and focus groups with key figures from the business community and public sector, and an analysis of existing approaches.
The findings have led to us adopting a ‘best business case’ model to direct available resources into investment priorities and a strategic outlook that focuses on some key areas for development: Raising the profile and visibility of Lancashire; Inward investment and strategic development; Business support; Supply chain and sector development; Skills development.