Introduction David Ralph, HotSW LEP CEO
With a new Prime Minister and Ministerial team imminent, Government will be going through significant change, and the future role of delivering local support for growth remains unclear. The cost of living rises which are challenging businesses are disproportionately impacting our coastal and rural economies, as well as costs to our public services.
Positively, we have, however, also seen the Government give its support for the Great South West, recognising the contribution we can make to Levelling Up, net zero, and delivering growth for Global Britain. However the recent Shared Prosperity announcement provides significantly less funding than the EU Structural Funds have done, and locally the disparity with the award in Cornwall will create challenges in providing commensurate support to our businesses. Local areas have also submitted business cases for Levelling-Up Funds.
This month LEPs across the country have called on the future Prime Minister to make resetting the relationship between Government and local business a priority, to ensure that the local economic growth we need can move at pace. The Growing Local Economies paper sent to ministers sets out what needs to happen at a local level if we are to break out of the latest gloomy economic assessment from the Bank of England.
Locally, we have been investing significantly in digital skills, digital infrastructure, and digital utilisation. Our infrastructure, whilst improved, remains behind where it needs to be, and in delivering digital transformation, skills and its effective utilisation will be similarly important. Through investments such as Smart Sound in Plymouth, EPIC in Torbay, the Digital Innovation Centre at Taunton and the emergence of organisations like Tech South West, we are starting to see a stronger digital/tech ecosystem emerging to support digital transformation across the region
David Ralph
Chief Executive
LEPs call on next PM to reset relationship with local businesses
Local LEP business leaders are calling on the future Prime Minister in the form of a short paper, to make resetting the relationship between government and local business a priority and ensure that the local economic growth we desperately need can move at pace.
The demand is at the heart of a plea to the incoming Prime Minister and new ministers, presented in a short paper sent to the two Conservative leadership candidates, setting out what LEPs believe needs to happen at a local level to boost growth. Read the full article to find out more.
Climate Summit to help Somerset businesses increase sustainability
Somerset businesses are being urged to play their part in combating the climate emergency, and are invited to join the Somerset Business Climate Summit 2022 at Queens College, Taunton on September 21st.
The Summit will highlight best practice and raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges for businesses as we shift toward a low carbon economy. Guest speakers from businesses including My Carbon Coach, The Field Works, and New Leaf Design will discuss topics including the easiest ways for businesses to cut carbon.
Spotlight on Devon Hospitality and Leisure
The Heart of the South West Growth Hub is partnering with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to host two free events to support hospitality, retail and leisure businesses in Devon on the 15th September in Barnstaple and the 29th September in Paignton.
The Spotlight on Devon Hospitality and Leisure events, sponsored by the LEP, will give businesses the chance to hear directly from support providers, district authorities, and recruitment experts about available support. Read the full event details to sign up.
900 homes and businesses benefit from Mobile Boost scheme
The Connecting Devon & Somerset Mobile Boost scheme, funded through our Growth Deal fund, is upgrading rural 4G phone coverage. The initiative aims to help small businesses and homes that struggle with connectivity or only have access to one provider.
Businesses and households in Somerset, Devon, Torbay and Plymouth can apply for a voucher of up to £1,200 towards the cost of a mobile signal booster from a registered supplier. The value of the voucher is dependent on the type of technology most suitable for the premises. Read about Nathan and Lizzie Figg’s business connectivity story by clicking on the button below.
£2m for digital skills and business support
We are delighted to have awarded funding for two new programmes providing digital skills and digital business support in the Heart of the South West region: the Digital Skills Programme and the Digital Skills Utilisation Programme.
The Digital Skills Programme will be delivered through Devon County Council, and the Digital Skills Utilisation Programme will be delivered through Devon County Council and the Heart of the South West Growth Hub. Both programmes are due to run until March 2025 across Somerset, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. Find out more by reading the full article.
IGNITE Business Programme
GNITE is welcoming entrepreneurs and creatives from across the South West to join their free Business Programme at Arts University Plymouth. Whether you’d like to grow an existing business or develop a budding idea, this free course can support you!
Over 8 afternoon workshops led by expert business consultant Mark Cotton, you’ll explore key skills including; business modelling, digital marketing, pitching and more. You’ll also have the opportunity for bespoke 1:1 mentoring. Ready to kickstart your business dreams? Head to the booking page.
Recovery Loan Scheme
Further details have been released of a new iteration of the Recovery Loan Scheme, designed to support access to finance for UK businesses as they look to invest and grow. Participating lenders will be listed on the British Business Bank website once they are open for applications.
The Recovery Loan Scheme aims to improve the terms on offer to borrowers. If a lender can offer a commercial loan on better terms, they will do so. The scheme will support facility sizes of up to £2m for borrowers outside the scope of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and up to £1m for those in scope of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Find out more about scheme features and eligibility.
Rural Hartland Quay to benefit from ultrafast connectivity
Connecting Devon & Somerset and Airband are committed to delivering full-fibre broadband to hard-to-reach locations in the heart of the South West region and it doesn’t come much more challenging than the stunningly rugged coastline at Hartland Quay.
Airband’s teams have deployed over 22km of fibre in the surrounding area, with a further 1.5km ensuring that Hartland Quay is connected with ultrafast broadband. Find out what Don Stafford, manager of the Hartland Quay Hotel has to say about the impact full fibre connectivity has on his business here.
Leonardo becomes anchor tenant at iAero Centre
Leonardo is now an anchor tenant at the new aerospace centre iAero, located next to the company’s site in Yeovil, Somerset – the ‘Home of British Helicopters’. The tenancy highlights their continued commitment to aerospace innovation.
The iAero Centre is a collaboration between Somerset Council, Leonardo Helicopters, and the LEP, funded with over £360k of our Growth Deal funding. A Leonardo team has now taken residence in the modern innovation hub with a primary focus on aircraft autonomy, electrical systems, and sustainable VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) technologies. Find out more by reading the full article.
Connecting people and businesses across the Heart of the South West
In this month’s blog David Ralph, our CEO, explores one of the biggest challenges in the Heart of the South West: connectivity, including quality transport infrastructure, increasingly good digital connectivity, and access to services and facilities in rural areas. Read on to find out more.
