The Heart of the South West LEP has amended its Articles to ensure stability and continuity during the upcoming transition period. In April 2023 Heart
On 16th – 18th May the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) participated in the UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum
The sectors’ key opportunities and challenges have been presented by stakeholders at a Great South West event at the University of Exeter on Thursday 4th
An update on the ambitious vision for the Great South West, the region’s Powerhouse Partnership, will be shared at the Exeter College Future Skills Centre
Introduction David Ralph, HotSW LEP CEO This month we were delighted to see the formal appointment of the Great South West Chair, Karl Tucker. Karl is also
The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) will be promoting the South West’s opportunities to investors at the national investment and infrastructure
Marine energy, defence and science company Sonardyne has been selected to provide a subsurface communications and navigation network for the Smart Sound Connect Subsurface (SSCS)
By David Ralph, Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West LEP. As the economy continues to wheeze and puff its way through the
By David Ralph, Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West LEP. As the economy continues to wheeze and puff its way through the
Celebrating Earth Day across the Heart of the South West In this one-off newsletter, we’re sharing some of the fantastic projects in our patch, working
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.