Spring Budget: passing the South West by?
17th March 2023
By David Ralph, Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West LEP. We are all aware that times are challenging right now. Business confidence
By David Ralph, Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West LEP. We are all aware that times are challenging right now. Business confidence
The Heart of the South West LEP is urging Government to commit vital funding to support South West businesses during the economic crisis. Karl Tucker,
The Heart of the South West LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) is calling on Government to accelerate upskilling the region’s workforce with the skills of the
The Heart of the South West LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) is calling on Government to accelerate upskilling the region’s workforce with the skills of the
Work to bring a new Wickes store to Edginswell Business Park are moving at pace, after construction challenges were overcome. After facing unprecedented challenges in
A bespoke service that supports nuclear inward investment into Somerset and Bristol is set to continue for a further year. Bridgwater-based SWMAS Ltd has been
A brand-new online directory of businesses operating in and around Exmoor National Park has been launched as part of the Rural Enterprise Exmoor initiative, which
Introduction David Ralph, HotSW LEP CEO This month we saw the Chancellor set out the Government’s new vision for prosperity, the ‘four Es’ – enterprise,
This month.. Partner with or Sponsor Maritime UK SW Maritime 2050 Innovation Forum, Hull, 9th March Winners of the Round 3 Clean Maritime Demonstrator Competition Announced Celtic Sea
The UK economy is likely to miss out on vital growth without a national strategy to address the growing skills gap, says one of the
The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership was one of 38 LEPs in England. The LEP was a leader and influencer for economic growth, job creation and prosperity across the Heart of the South West area covering Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay.
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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.