LEPs reveal £5bn investment by private sector to boost local growth

The level of private investment is part of a set of accumulated data collected by the LEP Network from the 39 business-led partnerships in England to demonstrate the impact of the work of LEPs and show that, to date, LEPs have:

 

• Created 115,000 new jobs
• Trained 78,000 learners
• Created 71,000 new businesses
• Supported 72,000 businesses
• Built 16,000 new homes, and
• Spent £945m on infrastructure

Welcoming the start of the LEP Annual Conference, the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon David Cameron MP said:

 

""In the five years since I joined you for the first LEP conference in Coventry, I have been delighted to see the real impact Local Enterprise Partnerships are making across the country. Together you have invested over £15 billion in projects and programmes - boosting local economies and creating quality job opportunities that are improving people's lives and their communities.

 

"I believe that local business leaders and local authorities must work together to make the best decisions for their area. This Government is pushing forward with the most ambitious devolution of power in a generation and business must be at the forefront of this. Now is the time for Local Enterprise Partnerships to get involved in devolution deals and tell us what you can do to drive growth.

 

"The achievements of LEPs are to be commended, but there is more to be done. So let me wish you a productive and enjoyable conference, and I look forward to seeing and hearing about what you come up with."

 

Opening the LEP Annual Conference, James Wharton MP, Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse said:

 

"These partnerships have had a significant and visible impact on their local economies helping deliver jobs and growth for the UK. Their business-led approach has seen billions invested by the private sector and thousands of jobs generated for local people."