LEP’s business plan for future growth

A FULL business plan for the future of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership should be completed by the end of next month.

The shadow board of the LEP initiated a series planning groups for its Herefordshire and Shropshire patch following its submission to Government last August.

The business plan focuses on six key themes for the area – strategic leadership; housing and planning; enterprise; employment; education and skills; transport and infrastructure and sustainability.

Under each theme, the LEP has planned activities aimed at assisting businesses such as making the body a statutory consultee on strategic planning applications, developing support packages and rolling out the Business Support Scheme developed in Telford.

LEP chairman Dr Geoffrey Davies OBE told TheBusinessDesk.com: “These groups drew in contributions from a range of business and partner organisations and conclusions were both tested and added to during a business event in November which attracted 170 Marches businesses.

“Through this cumulative effort a business plan has been drafted. Further consultation will happen as the business plan is finalised and fully signed off in March 2011.”

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Mr Davies is managing director of Ludlow-based agricultural vehicle company McConnel and vice-president of vegetation maintenance machinery company Alamo.

He said the types of projects the Marches LEP will focus on include those addressing business infrastructural needs, R&D requirements and schemes to increase new start-ups.

“I believe the LEP can be anything we want to be. It is important that the partnership remains strong between the three local authorities, the business community and all of the other interested organisations,” he added.

“Each will have a vital part to play in the future prosperity of the Marches.”