Former Leeds & Partners staff form international team at LEP

AN international team within Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been formed that “is charged with driving jobs, growth and productivity across inward investment and trade in the city region”.

The demise of inward investment agency Leeds & Partners was announced last December and its inward investment and marketing and communications staff became part of the LEP in April.

The LEP has today said it has created “a dedicated team to focus on international investment and lead on the coordination of trade support for the city region”, which is made up of 13 former Leeds & Partners staff.

It will create a strategy to attract overseas investors which will be presented to the LEP board this autumn.

Roger Marsh, chairman of the LEP, said: “The internationalisation of our economy is critical to driving good growth in Leeds City Region and the development of the LEP’s international team presents us with an opportunity to build on the excellent work already undertaken and drive our global competitiveness to the next level.”

The team, which reports in to LEP director Rob Norreys, will be supported by the LEP’s business innovation and growth panel, whose members include representatives from UKTI.