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Funding success for Heart of the South West Enterprise Zone

The Heart of the South West LEP Enterprise Zone takes a step forward as the LEP is awarded £35,000 from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to develop the zone at Huntspill and Exeter & East Devon.

Enterprise Zone status for these sites (one at Huntspill Energy Park in Somerset and four in Exeter and East Devon: Exeter Science Park, Skypark, Cranbrook and Exeter Airport) was announced in 2015. Across these sites, the zone has the potential to deliver 22,000 jobs and generate £360million in business rates which will be re-invested locally.

Enterprise Zones enable the local area to retain a greater share of business rate income which would otherwise be returned to national government. They offer discounted rates to new businesses locating in the zones and a preferential planning regime.

The grant will be matched by a further £35,000 from East Devon District Council and Sedgemoor Council. The money will be spent on a range of activities including State Aid advice, marketing, planning and legal support.

Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Steve Hindley CBE DL said:

“We welcome this new funding which is another step in the development of our enterprise zones. The LEP-wide package builds on the existing zone, Oceansgate in Plymouth, to offer economic opportunities for each of the key sectors in our strategic economic plan: Marine, Environmental Futures and New Nuclear.

“Enterprise Zones at these three key sites will benefit the whole of the Heart of the South West economy as the sites are strategically placed along the M5 to Plymouth transport route and will generate jobs and growth throughout the area.”

Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, Cllr Duncan McGinty, said:

“We welcome the news regarding the funding from DCLG. It will help us to cover some initial cost relating to the delivery of the enterprise zone. And we look forward to taking the project further.”

Councillor Paul Diviani, Leader of East Devon District Council said:

“We are all working hard to bring the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone from the drawing board to becoming a reality. This funding from Government is an important step in helping us to realise our plans to further boost our appeal to businesses and investors, whilst allowing us to reinvest funds here in future local growth initiatives.”

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, Growth and Exeter, and the Council’s member on the Board of The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said:

“This new funding from government is another vote of confidence in our area. These sites provide excellent facilities and good accessibility for businesses wishing to set up bases here, and we look forward to working with partners to develop and market them.”

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.