No plans for Worcestershire enterprise zone, says Cable
BUSINESS secretary Vince Cable has told Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) representatives that there are no immediate plans for more enterprise zones.
Worcestershire missed out on winning one of the new enterprise zones – which offer tax incentives and other breaks to businesses setting up in them – and Cable could give no assurances of a second chance.
He acknowledged that a number of good enterprise zone proposals had “failed to make the cut”.
He said: “I cannot promise you there will be a new round – we would want those given the go-ahead to bed in first. So that is on one side for the time-being – albeit if they prove a great success maybe we will want more.”
But, on a more positive note, Cable praised the LEP for its “pro-business and pro-growth attitude”.
His comments came on a visit to the area where he heard from LEP members of the progress being made on kick-starting local development schemes with money won under the Growing Places Fund.
The LEP was “clearly heading in the right direction,” Cable said.
LEP chairman Peter Pawsey urged the minister to consider Worcestershire “an ideal area for the Government to pilot schemes”.
He said: “Some of us used to feel that Worcestershire was something of a hidden county. We are very much about changing that.
“The challenge of the Worcestershire LEP is for us to step up to the plate and we are focused on turning our natural assets into real opportunities, with major benefits in terms of jobs and economic success.
“Worcestershire has massive assets and advantages as a place to live, to work and to play and we intend to use these assets to full effect in very significantly encouraging growth in jobs, homes and therefore the economy of the area – we are truly open for business.”
Among its milestones so far are receiving £17.85m from the Regional Growth Fund to bring forward Worcester Technology Park, which could eventually create 3,000 jobs, and receiving Growing Places funding for four projects.
