GPF – Oceansgate Phase 1

Capital build to create new Marine Enterprise Zone at Southyard, Plymouth.

Oceansgate is the first exclusively marine Enterprise Zone in the country, and part of the Heart of the South West LEP’s portfolio of three nationally designated enterprise zones.

Oceansgate is attracting commercial attention from businesses across the UK keen to move into the new site. Construction of Phase 1 started in 2017 to provide facilities that are designed to be flexible and easily adaptable so they can include office, design suites, testing labs and training rooms for technology development and prototypes production spaces as well as workshops for engineering and manufacturing and potentially laboratory space for research.

The South West Peninsula accounts for 14% of the marine sector nationally which means there is a wealth of marine and engineering skills in the area. There is also a high level of research and development happening in the south west. The site has the potential to bring these two very important sectors together to create more skilled jobs.

The Enterprise Zone status provides tax breaks including business rates discounts and more generous capital allowances as well as super-fast broadband. Income from business rates can be re-invested in Oceansgate for the next 25 years under the Enterprise Zone designation.

The LEP is a key strategic partner of the City Deal programme providing financial support, advice and advocacy from board members and an interface with government departments.

Growth Deal Funding: £1.5m

Growing Places Loan Funding: £5m

Started on site: March 2017

Completion: March 2018

See press release on completion of Oceansgate Phase 1 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.