Harnessing our region’s unique opportunities around clean energy, marine, aerospace and agri-tech to deliver clean and inclusive growth across the South West and accelerate the path to carbon net zero.
Our aim is to be a pioneer with our ambitious commitments to clean growth, which include a pledge to help place the Heart of the South West area on a resilient pathway to net zero by the 2040s or sooner.
The pledge forms part of the plans set out in our new ‘Blueprint for Clean Growth’, published in May 2021. Rather than being a standalone strategy, the Blueprint brings together and builds on the LEP’s existing strategies, including the Local Industrial Strategy and Build Back Better plan, to drive sustainable growth.
Our ambition is to grow the area’s economy in a clean and sustainable way by delivering inclusive economic prosperity whilst protecting the environment, lowering emissions and enhancing natural capital. The blueprint sets out how we will do this, by focusing on the area’s blue and green economy, creating the necessary conditions to enhance the economic connections with the marine and land-based environments.
Visit this page for regular news and updates on delivering the objectives and priorities set out in the Blueprint.
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.
Can’t find what your looking for? Contact us: LEPAdmin@somerset.gov.uk
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.