Businesses and others are being given the opportunity to shape the future of an area with an economic output worth over £45billion.
Four free public events will be staged by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, to consult businesses and other organisations on how they think the LEP area’s economy should develop in the next decade up to 2030.
D2N2 is the private sector-led Local Enterprise Partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary organisations which promotes economic growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
It manages over £500million in resources (via funding from the UK Government and European Union) to invest in its business growth, capital projects, infrastructure, employment promotion and other services. Programmes are guided by its long term, Strategic Economic Plan (or SEP); which is now being refreshed and updated to meet the LEP area’s changing economic needs, up to 2030.
Examples of successful projects and programmes by D2N2 and its partners since the original SEP was published, in 2013, include:
- completion of the £30m BioCity Discovery building in Nottingham which received £6.5m from D2N2’s Local Growth Fund, promoting hundreds of life sciences jobs;
- half funding by D2N2 of a new £6.9m University of Derby Chesterfield campus, aimed at teaching vocational skills, particularly for adult students;
- a £15million investment in a Building Better Opportunities fund (with partner the Big Lottery Fund) to help young people, the long term unemployed and those in poverty across the LEP area with help towards finding work;
- a D2N2 Growth Hub which has engaged with and helped over 6,000 Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire businesses, from start-ups to established firms looking to expand.
Proposals for a refreshed Strategic Economic Plan, to steer the D2N2 area’s economy up to 2030, are now in place; but the LEP is looking to businesses and other organisations’ representatives to attend four consultation events in November, to give their views and add to those ideas. A copy of the new, draft Plan can be viewed on the D2N2 LEP website by CLICKING ON THIS LINK.
The four free D2N2 LEP consultation events will be held on:
- Tuesday November 6th – at the New Art Exchange, 39 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham (NG7 6BE). Time, 8.30am to 10.30am.
- Wednesday November 7th – The Proact Chesterfield FC Stadium, Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, (S41 8NZ). Time, 1.15pm to 3.15pm.
- Tuesday November 13th – The Oakham Suite, 155 Nottingham Road, Mansfield, (NG18 4AE). Time, 8.30am to 10.30am.
- Wednesday November 14th – University of Derby Enterprise Centre, Bridge Street, Derby, (DE1 3LD). Time, 8.30am to 10.30am.
To book to attend any of the four consultation events on the D2N2 LEP’s refreshed Strategic Economic Plan, please go to the D2N2 Events web page at www.d2n2lep.org/Events
All events will feature a presentation on the Strategic Economic Plan proposals and an open discussion, for the audience to join in. There will also be information on D2N2’s wider work promoting economic growth in the area.
As well as attending these events, individuals and organisations can also give their views on the ‘refreshed’, draft Strategic Economic Plan by completing an online survey form at the web link HERE.
Elizabeth Fagan, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This is an important opportunity for individual businesses to directly help influence the direction of the D2N2 LEP area’s economy, for years to come. These events will look at issues such as the key sectors, new industries, infrastructure, skills gaps, technological advances, employment needs and many other things we should be focusing on.
“I would urge any business or organisation with a stake in the D2N2 LEP area’s future economic growth to attend, and give us their views. We very much look forward to hearing what they have to say.”
Examples of the research undertaken by D2N2 to inform the refreshed SEP can also be found on its website at www.d2n2lep.org/Growth/Evidence-Base
Further information about this media release or the LEP can be obtained from D2N2 Communications Manager Sean Kirby on 0115 957 8749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org