28 October, 2010

The Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (GC GP LEP) bid has today (Thursday 28 October 2010)been given the green light to proceed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)

Local Enterprise Partnerships have been created by BIS and the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) to bring businesses and the public sector together to help tackle issues such as local transport and infrastructure, economic development, employment, planning and housing, enterprise and supporting business start-ups.

The GC GP LEP bid was one of only a handful of bids to be approved by BIS and CLG ministers, and the announcement comes on the same day as the Local Growth White Paper is published.

Leaders from local businesses, local authorities, universities and social enterprises submitted the LEP proposal to Government in September this year, based on the complementary functional economic areas of Cambridge and Peterborough, together with Rutland, West Norfolk and King's Lynn, alongside neighbouring market towns and communities.

The mission of the GC GP LEP is to "lead our area's growth to 100,000 significant businesses and create 160,000 new jobs by 2025 in an internationally renowned low carbon, knowledge-based economy". This clear ambition for our growing area requires a step change in business success, unlocking the ability of the private sector to create jobs, wealth and offset the impact of public sector job losses.

The specific details of the structure and functions of the GC GP LEP will now be worked up by a private and public sector partnership group, in conjunction with officials from BIS and CLG, over the coming weeks.

Chair of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership Project Board, John Bridge, commented: "Today's news is clearly a very positive step as we collectively strive towards growth for our economic area. The publication of the White Paper will hopefully mean that we are in a position to truly drive our vision forward, and for local authorities and business to continue to work together to maximise the opportunities that this partnership will bring."

Councillor Jill Tuck, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "This is good news for the people of Cambridgeshire. One of our main priories is to ensure the continued prosperity of our communities. This new Local Enterprise Partnership will help support the growth of small and large businesses as well as the creation of new companies. It will help bring jobs and funding to Cambridgeshire as well as the chance to provide much needed infrastructure and facilities for residents. By working together local businesses, public authorities and universities will be ensuring the area is best placed to secure the investment needed to grow our local economy."

Peterborough City Council Leader Councillor Marco Cereste welcomed today's decision. He said: "This is excellent news. This agreement means that Peterborough, Cambridge and our other partners can capitalise on our complementary strengths to promote business and jobs growth.

Cllr Roger Begy, Leader of Rutland County Council, said: "In view of the recent decision to reduce RAF activity at various bases across the LEP, including RAF Cottesmore in Rutland, this is welcome news to enable us to regenerate our communities. It also gives us a platform for a more co-ordinated approach to tackle key rural issues such as access to high speed broadband."

Matt Schofield, Cambridge Network's CEO, said: "Cambridge Network is proud to be working with the Local Enterprise Partnership as the Cambridge high tech community, working closely with our old friends from Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, Greater Cambridge Partnership, Cambridgeshire Horizons and Peterborough Forward as well as many other community groups across the region. The Local Enterprise Partnership has ambitious plans to create new employment and improve quality of life for our citizens, and we are delighted to give a high tech voice to central government through this forum."

The GC GP LEP area covers the local authority boundaries of Cambridgeshire, Peterborough City, Rutland, Cambridge, East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire Districts, and extends to cover the real economic geography extends into part of North Hertfordshire, Uttlesford, St Edmundsbury, Forest Heath, South Holland and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. In total, this area is home to 1.3 million people, around 700,000 jobs and 60,000 enterprises that generate approximately £30 billion per year.

You can find out more and download the original GC GP LEP proposal at www.yourlocalenterprisepartnership.co.uk.

Notes to editors

1. The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) state that Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) will bring together councils and businesses on an equal footing with one voice, replacing the current Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). In a joint letter sent to councils and business leaders on 29 June 2010, Business Secretary Vince Cable and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles have asked them to consider forming new local enterprise partnerships that can provide strategic leadership in their local areas and create the right environment for business success and economic growth.
2. The Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership area covers Cambridgeshire, Peterborough City, Rutland, Cambridge, East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire Districts, and extends to cover the real economic geography extends into part of North Hertfordshire, Uttlesford, St Edmundsbury, Forest Heath, South Holland and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.
3. The GC GP LEP proposal is business-driven, with a 'bottom-line' of business returns as follows:
4. 1. A doubling of GVA over a twenty year period – from £30 billion to £60 billion annually.
   2. Growth in the number of significant businesses (as measured by the Inter-Departmental Business Register) from 60,000 to 100,000 by 2025
   3. Creation of 160,000 new jobs by 2025
   4. Delivery of 100,000 new homes over a 20 year period.

For further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact Laura Halstead (lead for Communications and Engagement on behalf of the GC GP LEP) on 01223 714176 or email laura.halstead@cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk.