The 30-page document captures the county’s major economic achievements over the last financial year which have been delivered by the LEP, working in partnership with the county’s local authorities, universities, skills providers, public agencies, government departments, and local businesses.
These include the official opening of the AMRC North West facility at Samlesbury, the completion of UCLan’s Drone Command Centre, and Blackpool’s new international conference centre welcoming back the Conservative Party Conference after a 15-year hiatus.
The government’s decision to locate the Nation Cyber Force (NCF) headquarters in Lancashire, set to bring with it a multi-million pound investment and thousands of new jobs, is highlighted, as are details of how Lancashire’s business support service Boost helped hundreds of SMEs get on the post-pandemic road to recovery.
In addition, progress being made by the LEP’s six strategic Sector Groups, and the continuing positive impact being made by the county’s Skills and Employment Hub, is covered.
The publication also offers a snapshot of Lancashire’s overall economic performance during the financial year, and outlines several key new economic strategies which are due to be published by the LEP in 2022.
These include a new Digital Strategy, a new Internationalisation Strategy, and a refreshed Innovation Strategy.
A core theme running throughout the Annual Report is Lancashire’s growing strengths within new and dynamic sectors such as cybersecurity and electech. The county’s evolving innovation ecosystem, which is set to drive growth across a wide range of technology-based disciplines such as space and satellites, clean energy, low carbon infrastructure, digital health, and future mobility, is also profiled
Further, the report reflects both on the role the LEP is set to play as Lancashire’s independent ‘voice of business’ as the county moves towards devolution, and how the government recognises the unique convening power of LEPs with regards to delivering its Levelling Up agenda.
Commenting on the publication of the Annual Report, LEP Chair Debbie Francis OBE said:
“In my introduction to this year’s annual report I say that despite the severe challenges many of our businesses are currently facing, I remain cautiously optimistic about Lancashire’s economic future.
“That’s because we are now starting to see how the LEP’s investments into new R&D assets and infrastructure are combining with our skills and Sector Group initiatives to create an ecosystem which facilitates innovation, encourages collaboration, and drives growth.
“The decision to bring the NCF here is testament to this strategic economic groundwork, as is the government’s belief the LEP should be involved in all major economic decisions being made by local leaders as Lancashire moves towards a devolved future.
“This document also acts as record of the fantastic contribution the LEP’s board members make to the county. These are highly experienced and skilled individuals who give up their personal time to help Lancashire become a fairer, more inclusive and prosperous place.
“Without them, none of what we do would be possible, I would like to use the publication of this year’s annual report as an opportunity to thank all of them for their hard work and commitment.”
You can download a copy of the LEP’s 2021-22 Annual Report here.
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