New Cheshire LEP chair looks to get motoring

CHESHIRE and Warrington’s new Local Economic Partnership intends to involve as much of the area’s wider business community in its plans as possible, according to its new chairman, Christine Gaskell.

Gaskell, who is also head of personnel and a board director at Bentley Motors, said that the LEP will begin to be judged on its effectiveness “within 12-18 months”.

Gaskell was one of eight private sector representatives voted onto an 11-strong LEP board at its inaugural meeting in Knutsford last weekend, alongside the leaders of Cheshire West & Chester, Cheshire East and Warrington councils.

Other private sector members included Harman Technology chairman Howard Hopwood, Grosvenor Estates managing director Graham Ramsbottom, Brunner Mond managing director Martin Ashcroft and Louise Morrissey of Peel Holdings.

“The shadow LEP have done a great job,” she said.  “Myself excluded, they have got some very big names on board.”

Gaskell said that there had been more than 100 private sector applicants who wanted to get involved on the LEP board, and that the organisation would look to engage with as many of them as possible moving forwards in removing red tape and other barriers to competitiveness.

“The one thing that people can contribute that doesn’t cost anything are ideas,” she said.

One of the LEP’s key tasks will be in co-ordinating any future bids to be submitted to the Regional Growth Fund. Some 11 bids were submitted for the first round of funding – the outcome of which will be known by the end of the month.

Although it clearly had no say in which bids were put forwards for the first round, it will seek to guide second-round bids once the new round for submissions opens next month.

“We’ll look at the opportunities that will generate high-value employment, but what you need to do is to put forward something that is sustainable.”

She also sounded a note of caution on the future funding environment for key projects.

“We’re not a direct replacement for the North West Development Agency and we only have a limited amount of funding, but we do think we can have an impact and we have a very good knowledge of the economic environment.”

The LEP will also oversee the work of Marketing Cheshire – a new body set up to market the county both to tourists and visitors.

Its work will supersede the former Visit Cheshire and Chester tourism body, although that will be retained as the consumer-facing brand. Two new brands – Invest in Cheshire and Live in Cheshire – will also be launched.

“We are pleased to have been able to help guide and support the structure of the new organisation, which will bring a much greater synergy and cohesive approach to place marketing, promotion and the visitor economy,” said Gaskell.

The new organisation will continue to be chaired by corporate lawyer Edward Pysden and run by Visit Cheshire and Chester chief executive Chris Brown.

Pysden said: “Place marketing, tourism and promotion are intrinsically linked. Through the new organisation, we can take a much more focused and integrated approach.”

Cheshire and Warrington’s visitor economy is currently valued at more than £1.78 billion and supports 27,041 jobs – accounting for 15% of all employment locally. 

“Tourism bosses aim to double visitor spending across Cheshire and Warrington to £3 billion within 10 years.”