LSCC Growth Commission: Hertfordshire LEP. Paul Witcome Enterprise & Innovation January 2016

Transcription

1 LSCC Growth Commission: Hertfordshire LEP Paul Witcome Enterprise & Innovation January 2016

2 Hertfordshire s Economy today Economic output (GVA per head) 14% above UK Avg High Employment rate (78%) Low Unemployment (<4%) Highly skilled workforce (>50% degree level) Moderate levels of inward investment High business start-up rates High Levels of outward commuting Lack of affordable housing Lack of Grade A commercial premises Obsolescence in commercial building stock Slow growth and weak productivity. SME digital connectivity

3 despite a superb strategic location at the heart of the Golden Triangle

4 We ought to be leading the pack in economic growth. But we are not

5 Our Priorities 1. Global Excellence in Science and Technology Biosciences A1m Film and Media M25 Advanced engineering A1m 2. Harnessing our Relations with London and elsewhere Investing in our Transport Corridors: A1M; M25/M1; A10/M11 3. Reinvigorating our places Regenerating our new towns: Stevenage/Watford/Hemel/ Hatfield 4. Foundations for Growth Developing a skills and business support package for Herts SME

6 Global excellence in science, technology & creativity

7 Growth Areas

8 Growth Area Forums These will address economic priorities within functional economic areas e.g. M1/M25 could focus on: Responding to London s Economic Plan (HS2/Cross Rail) Developing the Film & Media Sector Cross boundary town centre regeneration programme Business-led economic growth agenda, chaired by LA rep on LEP Board Meets 1-2 times per year with task groups and to progress priorities Will also be used to update stakeholders on SEP activity Initial event in each area by March 2015

9 National /External challenges/opportunities affecting the Herts economy M1/M25 A1(M) A10/M11 Format/ LEP Role Influence of London economy Stansted London Plan Food production/security Bi-annual multi stakeholder events Crossrail Rural issues HS2 New town & garden city Crossrail 2 LEP to co-ordinate regeneration Cambridge growth plans Bioscience LSCC Cross border potential growth locations Gorhambury (housing/employment east of Hemel) Town Centre Futures (S. Oxhey, Borehamwood etc ) Gilston /Harlow LA led LEP to facilitate discussions, commission studies, lobby for investment Jobs and Homes (key sites and infrastructure) Sector support and skills Radlett Rail Freight Depot Watford Junction Environmental Technologies Creative and media Financial Services North Herts Strategic Sites Influence of Luton and Luton Airport Welwyn Garden City Hatfield Stevenage A1(M) East Coast Main Line Logistics Bioscience Advanced Manufacturing (Space) Bishops Stortford Greater Brookfield Park Plaza A10 Royston Ware Hertford Predominantly LA-led using existing structures where necessary LEP to facilitate discussions, commission studies, lobby for investment? Predominantly Business-led groupings LEP to establish (where needed) groups support & bid for funds for activities SLGF and GPF Projects EUSIF projects (to be identified) Croxley Rail Link Watford Health Campus Watford Business Park South Oxhey Elstree Studios Hemel Hempstead Town Centre Hemel Hempstead Maylands Hemel Hempstead West Herts College Rothamsted Stevenage Town Centre Little Hadham By Pass (A120) A602 improvements Rail Accessibility Improvements Broxbourne Enterprise Centre Broadband (maybe more of an issue due to rural nature) Annual reporting of SLGF and EUSIF funded projects and determination of new projects Across each Growth Area Forum Route Based Strategies (investment plans) Influencing Network Rail s investment plans from 2021 (they start the process in 2015) LTP 4 Vision Business Incubation Skills Inward Investment Tourism Updating Employment Floorspace

10 The Journey So Far (1) 2010/2011 RDA Closures Announced Local Areas bid to establish alternative arrangements for business led Economic Dev Interim Hertfordshire LEP Board Established 2011/2012 Government confirms LEP Capacity funding Minister endorses LEP Board March m Growing Places Fund (GPF) 2012/ st Phase GPF projects: Watford Health Campus and Elstree Studios HMG announces competitive process for LEPs to bid for Local Growth Funding (LGF) Pre- Growth Deal Funding Landscape Hertfordshire = 23 p.c UK = 88 p.c. Herts Ranking = 36/ 39 LEPs

11 The Journey So Far (2) 2013/14 LEP Prepares Strategic Economic Plan Invests 0.5m to bring superfast broadband to key Business Parks (Maylands & Centennial) LEP secures allocation of 59m European Funding to invest in Skills and business support Introduces Grants for Growth: a small scale capital equipment grant to encourage investment in low carbon technologies 2014/2015 LEP secures ( 200m Growth Deal for 2015/21 Additional 22m allocated for 2016/17 Establishes Growth Hub with UH backing

12 2015 to 2021: Starting to deliver Growth Deal funding arrives April 2015 Projects being prepared to start Last hurdle to deployment of EU funding being lifted Getting ready for projects to launch 72 m Business Support Package financed by: 24m Local Growth Fund 43m EU Funding 5m Growing Places Fund Sub Packages: 22m Buildings 4 Enterprise (incubators) 7m SME growth (Advice and Guidance) 11m Innovation support (knowledge Transfer R&D) 18m Access2 Finance (Grants Loans Equity) 14m Skills (apprenticeships. Training etc)

13 Lessons Learned Have pushed the growth agenda forward locally (and have the scars to show for it...) Learned to be ruthless: Selective in the development and prioritisation of projects securing top five growth deal Willing to negotiate & be flexible Adherence to the evidence base and rationale for investment Rewarded with: Annual funding in advance Potential flexibilities in fund allocation Top five growth deal in terms of per capita allocation

14 Reflections on areas for corridor collaboration

15 LSCC Growth Commission: Hertfordshire LEP Paul Witcome Enterprise & Innovation January 2016