The Heart of the South West recognises that inclusivity means enabling as many people as possible to both contribute and benefit from economic growth. It seeks to address the social and spatial challenges that affect the region with regard to inclusion.
As with most other areas, the Heart of the South West still has significant inequalities in life outcomes across its population. Until differences in key outcomes, such as educational attainment, can be narrowed, these will continue to act as barriers to the aspiration of more inclusive growth. There also appears a geographical element which persists despite investment and intervention.
Our Inclusive Growth dashboard sets out key issues in inequality and inclusivity faced by the region, and changes in the last few years.
This dashboard provides analysis of the Heart of the South West’s Inclusive Growth performance. Use the links within this interactive document to navigate and view external data sources.
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.
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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.