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Last few days to register for Heart of the South West LEP Conference – 12 November at Sandy Park, Exeter

The Heart of the South West LEP Annual Conference and AGM is an opportunity to meet with the wider LEP partnership and to network with other stakeholders. Over 300 organisations have registered to attend – the event is free – and advance booking is essential before 5pm on Monday 5 November.

Confirmed speakers include Brexit experts from Whitehall and the Local Government Association; as well as representatives from the Bank of England SW and CBI SW.

Delegates will also hear from the LEP’s three Leadership Groups of People, Place and Business, who will be hosting seminars.  

The focus for the morning is around the publicly funded support schemes available to business and enterprises in the Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay areas and is being led by the HotSW Growth Hub.  There will be a chance to meet experts and find out what help is available for businesses. Over 20 business support providers will be available on the day with their stands in the “market place” areas.  

The afternoon session provides a chance to hear from Chief Executive David Ralph and the LEP’s Chair Steve Hindley  about the achievements of the LEP and its plans.

Chair of the Heart of the South West LEP, Steve Hindley CBE DL said:

“I urge anyone with businesses interests Devon, Plymouth, Somerset or Torbay to come along to our conference and find out about our achievements to date and the exciting plans we have to raise productivity and prosperity across the area.”

Delegates can attend the morning, the afternoon or all day, advanced booking is essential before 5pm Monday 5 November  here.

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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.