East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership

East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership
Name	East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership
Formation	2011
Type	Local enterprise partnership
Region served	Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland
Headquarters	Nottingham
Leader title	Chair

East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership

The East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership brought together leaders from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland to coordinate regional development, aligning stakeholders such as Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Grantham, and Kettering with national initiatives like the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the former Department for Communities and Local Government, and the Heritage Lottery Fund to stimulate investment across transport corridors including the M1 motorway, the East Coast Main Line, and the A46 road.

History and Formation

The LEP emerged from the 2010 coalition priorities led by David Cameron and Nick Clegg to replace regional development agencies like the East Midlands Development Agency with locally led partnerships, drawing membership from civic leaders in Nottingham City Council, Derby City Council, Leicestershire County Council, and business figures associated with Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce plc, Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, Siemens, and Bombardier Transportation. Formation discussions referenced national frameworks including the Localism Act 2011, the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, and grant arrangements once overseen by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund, while interactions occurred with infrastructure bodies such as Network Rail and regulatory agencies like Office for National Statistics during baseline studies.

Governance and Structure

Governance combined private-sector chairs and public-sector board members from entities like British Chambers of Commerce, representatives from University of Nottingham, Loughborough University, De Montfort University, and further education colleges including Nottingham Trent University affiliate bodies. The board worked alongside subcommittees aligned with transport partners such as East Midlands Airport, distribution hubs like DP World, skills partners including City & Guilds, and investment arms inspired by models from the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership and West Midlands Combined Authority. Accountability lines referenced guidance from the National Audit Office and funding conditions monitored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Economic Strategy and Priorities

Strategic priorities targeted clusters around advanced manufacturing in associations with Rolls-Royce plc, Bombardier Transportation, and Metropolitan Police Service procurement links; low-carbon energy projects related to National Grid, E.ON, and Siemens Gamesa; agritech initiatives connected to AB Agri and Lincolnshire County Council; digital innovation hubs linked to BT Group, Vodafone, and Microsoft UK; and logistics and distribution leveraging infrastructure at East Midlands Airport and freight routes to Port of Immingham. Skills and workforce alignment referenced collaborations with Jobcentre Plus, UK Commission for Employment and Skills, Institute of Directors, and local training providers like Midlands Engine partners, aiming to meet targets similar to those in the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine frameworks.

Key Projects and Investments

Notable projects included support for science parks adjacent to University of Nottingham Innovation Park, manufacturing investment in clusters serving Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls-Royce plc, logistics schemes around East Midlands Gateway, and urban regeneration initiatives in Nottingham Market Square and Derby Cathedral Quarter influenced by funding models from the Local Growth Fund and City Deal arrangements. Transport interventions referenced upgrades to the Midland Main Line, proposals to improve connectivity on the A46 road, and bid support for high-profile programmes such as HS2 feeder planning and freight consolidation schemes serving Port of Grimsby. Energy investments engaged with programmes run by National Grid ESO and trials with offshore partners related to Dogger Bank Wind Farm consortium stakeholders.

Partnerships and Stakeholders

The LEP network encompassed local authorities like Nottinghamshire County Council, business organisations including Federation of Small Businesses, research institutions such as University of Lincoln and Coventry University, and funding bodies like the British Business Bank. It coordinated with transport operators East Midlands Railway and infrastructure owners Highways England, worked with workforce partners including Prospects Services and Adult Skills Budget administrators, and liaised with voluntary sector groups like National Council for Voluntary Organisations and cultural institutions such as Nottingham Contemporary and Curve (theatre). Cross-border collaboration occurred with neighbouring LEPs including the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.

Performance, Impact, and Evaluation

Performance reviews referenced metrics drawn from Office for National Statistics regional accounts, HM Treasury value-for-money assessments, and local impact studies conducted with universities including Loughborough University. Evaluations assessed job creation in sectors tied to Rolls-Royce plc supply chains, GVA improvements across districts like Rushcliffe and North East Lincolnshire, and outcomes from European Structural and Investment Funds transitions to domestic frameworks managed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Reports compared LEP outputs against benchmarks observed in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Combined Authority evaluations.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critiques mirrored national debates over LEP transparency highlighted in investigations by National Audit Office and commentary in outlets like Financial Times, with concerns about board appointments, conflicts involving private-sector partners connected to Rolls-Royce Holdings plc contracts, and allocation decisions resembling tensions seen in HS2 route controversies and Fracking debates in Lincolnshire. Governance lapses prompted scrutiny by local scrutiny committees within Nottingham City Council and calls for reforms echoing recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee and reviews under the Local Government Association.

Category:Local enterprise partnerships