An important scheme to link Taunton’s Firepool Development and new station car park to the town’s road network with cycling provision is set to commence
The Heart of the South West LEP has announced further funding to support the Heart of the South West Growth Hub in providing support to
Connecting Devon and Somerset’s scheme to improve indoor 4G mobile phone coverage in the region has been extended due to ongoing demand. The Mobile Boost programme was
Written by David Ralph, CEO of the Heart of the South West LEP. The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement has been announced, and I’m pleased to see
The Heart of the South West LEP is urgently reminding SMEs across Devon and Somerset to apply for funding by the end of December to
Front row, L-R: Marie Coniston, Lorraine Vanzie, Carla Modley, Karyn Barnes, Corinne Matthews, Suhan Shetty. Back row, L-R: Robert Read, Alexis Hammer, Rob Emony, Adeel
This month… £1.2m invested in new Plymouth underwater communications network National recruitment campaign for Plymouth and South Devon Freeport launches Event: Floating Offshore Wind and
Introduction David Ralph, HotSW LEP CEO This month we welcomed another new Prime Minister, and with even more changes to policy and Ministers, it is
An exciting new five-way collaboration agreement provides access to state-of-the-art additive manufacturing technology for the aerospace and high-value manufacturing sector in the South West of
A £200 million investment fund to support the growth of small and medium-sized businesses across the South West of England is on course to be
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.