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Inward Investment success through Regional Growth Fund

Leading Swedish oral hygiene company TePe AB, have demonstrated their commitment to the UK market and confidence in the Heart of the South West as a business location by investing in a brand new UK headquarters at Cathedral Park in Wells. The new facility, which opened in January, is the head office and warehouse for the UK subsidiary of TePe AB and was supported by a grant from the Regional Growth Fund through the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership to create a new facility to enable growth and stimulate the economy.

The move marks an exciting future for the company, with the expanded head office providing the opportunity for further UK investment and future job creation. Previously based in Wedmore and Cheddar, the company’s new headquarters are strategically designed to accommodate the rapid growth TePe has undergone in recent years and provide a facility for continued growth for the future.

Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, Steve Hindley DL CBE said: “We are delighted to see the fruition of a strong partnership between TePe, the LEP and Mendip District Council to bring about this major inward investment by a global brand to the Heart of the South West area with the help of a Regional Growth Fund grant.

“Growth and productivity are our main focus and this project enables future expansion bringing more new jobs to the area.”

Cllr Tom Killen, Deputy Leader of Mendip District Council, said:

“Helping expanding high quality businesses such as TePe is a key priority for the council and we are very pleased that they have chosen Wells as their preferred location to invest and grow in the future.”

Jayne Lunnon, General Manager UK at TePe, said: “Moving to a new purpose-built office and warehouse facility marks a hugely exciting time and demonstrates commitment for the future growth of our UK business.  We have potential to expand the current site as we expand the business – this will inevitably create new jobs.”

“Equally, we’ve always had Somerset as our UK base and it was important to us that we continued to operate from the county. We’re surrounded by beautiful countryside, which is important to the pastoral side of our business and the well-being of our employees. Wells’ surrounding restaurants and hotels will also provide us plenty of opportunity to support local businesses, while entertaining our international colleagues and visitors”.

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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.