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LEP urges businesses to apply for share of funds

The Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is encouraging businesses to apply for a share of a £3.2 billion fund.

Run by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), is designed to help companies in England to grow.

Running between 2011 – 2015, this is Round 5 of the fund – so far, £2.6 billion of funding has been allocated to support a range of projects and programmes.   The latest round is worth £300 million.

Businesses across Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay can make a bid in Round 5 of the RGF, established to support projects and programmes that lever private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment.

Chris Garcia, Chief Executive of the HotSW LEP said: “We hope that businesses will apply for funding, as it will boost growth and increase employment in the Heart of the South West area.

“This round of funding is primarily aimed at larger firms, as the minimum bid is £1 million – smaller businesses were eligible for projects under previous rounds of the RGF.”

The HotSW LEP, a private and public sector partnership covering Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay, is offering support to those making a bid:   the Partnership endorsed many stand alone bids from organisations within the area for the RGF in previous rounds of the RGF.

BIS has encouraged bidders to involve the LEPs and seek their support and endorsement as part of the bidding process. In order to do this bidders are strongly encouraged to contact the LEP at least seven working days prior to submitting their bid to BIS.   More details are available on the LEP website.

A series of regional roadshows are being planned by the Department for Innovation, Business and Skills to help businesses with their applications.   The next one for this area will be held on 5th November at the University of Plymouth.

Expression of Interest forms and details about the roadshow event for Round 5 are available on this website and the deadline for applications to BIS   is midday on is 9th December.

Successful bids will be announced in spring 2014.

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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.