Support builds for Cheshire/Warrington LEP

Two events held to consult local businesses on proposals for a Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership were attended by nearly 100 people.

Held last week over two days in Northwich, and organised by the Cheshire & Warrington Enterprise Commission, the events were designed to involve businesses at the earliest stages of the development of the bid for a Local Enterprise Partnership for the area.

CWEC is holding a further event on 23 August 2010 in Northwich for all stakeholders in particular the public, voluntary and community sectors.

Robert Davis, chairman of the Cheshire & Warrington Enterprise Commission and group chief executive of EA Technology near Chester, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for us as businesses to create a model that we are happy with and make sure that it meets our needs and enables us to grow our businesses.

"With inevitable reductions in public sector expenditure we need to look increasingly to the private sector to help us drive the economy forward. It is vital that our businesses are successful and continue to support our residents and the economy.

"We are delighted that businesses are very supportive of the creation of an LEP and what came across very strongly at the events was that senior managers want to be involved now, in the formulation of the bid, to shape what the LEP will do and give it a clear business focus."

In a letter to Local Authority and Business Leaders, the Coalition Government has announced its intention to create LEPs which will be business led and will focus on transforming the economy.

Expected later in the summer, the forthcoming White Paper on sub-national economic growth will set out the Government's approach to LEPs in more detail.

Outline proposals for new Local Enterprise Partnerships are to be submitted to Government by 6 September 2010.