The company has seen a 450% increase in demand for services since December. The expansion is expected to create numerous employment opportunities in the Exeter
Exeter Science Park has welcomed the latest business to its community – marine software engineering specialists Marine AI. Marine AI specialises in edge-based artificial intelligence
Exeter Science Park has welcomed the latest business to its community – marine software engineering specialists Marine AI. Marine AI specialises in edge-based artificial intelligence
Introduction David Ralph, HotSW LEP CEO This month saw the announcement of the Spring Budget, which I was pleased to see included progress on nuclear delivery, a
The ambitious vision for the Great South West, the region’s Powerhouse Partnership, has been set out at a key event in Somerset. More than 60
Plymouth based companies are attracting millions of pounds of foreign investment creating and securing quality jobs, with more investments on the horizon. Statistics collated by
Leonardo Helicopters, with support from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in Yeovil, hosted a team from the University of Sheffield
Classic Builders have been appointed to build new business facilities at Lymington Road Coach Station. Works are set to start in the coming weeks, after
Business units in the new Barrack Court are nearly complete and ready to be let. Barrack Court comprises a development of high quality, sustainable business
In the Chancellor’s Budget, I was pleased to see progress on nuclear delivery and an overdue reset of the green agenda, as well as some
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.