Swindon & Wiltshire News
Swindon & Wiltshire LEP reports successful first year
Business and local government leaders have reported a successful 12 months for local enterprise in Swindon & Wiltshire.
In its first annual report published this week, The Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has reflected on a number of successes since it began.
Its achievements include submitting a successful proposal to the government’s City Deal initiative and securing £9.4 million for the Growing Places Infrastructure Fund.
Paul Johnson, chairman of the LEP, welcomed one achievement above all others: “Our biggest success has been establishing an effective partnership between business and the public sector. Together we are now really starting to think as one in terms of the economic challenges our area faces.
“Looking forward, it is clear there is still much to do, but for the first time in a very long time we have real opportunities to make a difference”
In recent developments the LEP has appointed Isobel Brown as its director of partnership and programmes. This will allow her predecessor, Steve Richards, to move into a more focused role within the partnership, managing the negotiation process for the Swindon & Wiltshire City Deal.
The Swindon & Wiltshire LEP is a business led partnership between the two unitary councils (Swindon & Wiltshire) and the private sector. As one of 39 LEPs across the country, it is tasked with driving economic growth, creating jobs and new business opportunities, and working with central government to attract public and private investment into the area.
