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Contract for the provision of SME Business Support for Hinkley Point C Supply Chain and Nuclear South West Inward Investment Expertise

The HotSW & WoE LEP recognise the significant economic opportunities for businesses, in particular SMEs that the proposed construction by EDF Energy (EDFE), of two new nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset will offer.

However, evidence from Business Support Agencies, EDF Energy and their major Contractors  provides a compelling case for specific and bespoke interventions to support the SME community to embrace these opportunities. Therefore the HOTSW and WoE LEPs have combined resources to fund a 3 year programme of support.

Nuclear industry projects including Hinkley and Oldbury, in South Gloucestershire, also offer huge inward investment opportunities within the area, this contract will provide inward investment support to local partners, to engage and maintain long-term investors to maximise the impact.

The Contract combines 2 distinct but intrinsically linked elements:

A – Nuclear SME Supply-Chain Business Support – this covers the geographic areas of the HotSW LEP and WoE LEP.   This has a value of £320,000 per annum. The geographic coverage of this element could broaden in the future, subject to further funding contributions from authorities joining the LEP collaboration

Relevant and suitable businesses who have registered on the HPC SW Supply Chain Portal will receive support to understand the types of work packages that will become available during the construction period of HPC, and will be given help and advice in respect of how they can become procurement ready to access this demanding sector.

B – Nuclear South West Inward Investment Expertise also covering the Heart of the South West and West of England LEP areas, and extends to incorporate the area covered by G1st LEP.   Activity will include supporting the inward investment strategy and campaigns, targeted marketing of potential inward investors and on-going account management to provide 1-2-1 support to strategically important nuclear-related businesses with a propensity to grow, or which require safeguarding.   This has a value of £96,000 per annum (with 2nd and 3rd year contributions committed, but subject to normal public sector scrutiny).

Further detail of the scope of the ITT can be found on Supply the South West procurement portal and the deadline for final submissions is 12 noon on 28 November 2016.

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      David Ralph

      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.