Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership

Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership
Name	Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership
Formation	2010
Type	Local enterprise partnership
Headquarters	Leeds
Region served	West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, City of York, Humber
Leader title	Chair
Leader name	(see Governance and Structure)

Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership

Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership is a local enterprise partnership covering parts of West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, the City of York, and the East Riding of Yorkshire. It was created to coordinate economic development across metropolitan and rural areas including Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, and Harrogate. The partnership engages with national institutions such as UK Treasury, Department for Business and Trade, and regional bodies including Yorkshire and the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership and works alongside municipal authorities like Leeds City Council and Bradford Council.

History

The partnership was established in the context of the Localism Act 2011 and the UK-wide creation of local enterprise partnerships, following precedents set by collaborations among Leeds City Council, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Kirklees Council, and Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council. Early initiatives linked to regional transport priorities such as Leeds Bradford Airport expansion and rail schemes related to TransPennine Express and Northern Rail. The partnership’s timeline intersects with national programmes including the Regional Growth Fund, European Regional Development Fund, and the Local Growth Fund. Major events in its evolution include strategic plans referencing the Northern Powerhouse agenda, alignment with the Leeds City Region Strategic Economic Plan, and participation in bids connected to the HS2 and East Coast Main Line improvements.

Governance and Structure

The partnership is governed by a board comprising representatives from city and district councils such as Leeds City Council, Bradford Council, York Council, and private-sector leaders drawn from firms like Arla Foods, ASDA, Burberry, Harrogate Spring Water (Harrogate), and FirstGroup. Chairs and deputy chairs have included figures with links to institutions such as University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, York St John University, Yorkshire Bank, and Business in the Community. Accountability mechanisms reference national frameworks including Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) guidance and interactions with ministers from the Department for Education and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Subcommittees address transport with West Yorkshire Combined Authority, skills linked to Leeds College of Building and Leeds Trinity University, and innovation connected to Leeds Innovation Centre.

Functions and Strategic Priorities

The partnership’s core functions include strategic planning for job creation across sectors such as advanced manufacturing exemplified by Jaguar Land Rover supply chains, digital services connected to Sky Broadband and Vodafone, and financial services around Leeds City Square and firms like Direct Line. It prioritises transport infrastructure projects tied to M62 motorway, A1(M), and rail operators including CrossCountry, while promoting skills aligned with employers such as Haribo (UK), Kirkstall Forge, and Siemens Gamesa. Innovation and research collaborations draw on University of York, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Clinical Commissioning Groups, and technology incubators like Leeds Tech Hub. Regeneration work ties into schemes in City Square, Leeds, Bradford City Park, Kirkstall Forge redevelopment, and heritage sites such as Temple Newsam and York Minster.

Economic Impact and Projects

The partnership has supported major projects including brownfield redevelopment at Leeds South Bank, enterprise zones linked to Leeds Bradford Airport Enterprise Zone, and business park developments near Humber Ports. It has influenced investments by multinational companies such as Amazon (company), Sainsbury's, and Royal Mail Group in the region and facilitated programmes with organisations like Federation of Small Businesses and Confederation of British Industry. Workstreams have addressed skills shortages via apprenticeships tied to Leeds College of Building and Shipley College, and innovation via collaborations with Leeds Institute for Data Analytics and Yorkshire Universities. The partnership’s economic modelling referenced datasets from Office for National Statistics, Local Government Association, and policy research by think tanks including Institute for Public Policy Research and Centre for Cities.

Funding and Investment

Funding streams have included allocations from the Local Growth Fund, bids to the European Regional Development Fund, and national investments coordinated with HM Treasury. The partnership has leveraged private-sector finance through partnerships with banks like HSBC, Barclays, and Lloyds Banking Group, and has supported inward investment facilitated by UK Trade & Investment and successor bodies. Capital programmes have underwritten transport upgrades with contributions from Highways England and rail projects involving Network Rail. Local authority contributions from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, City of York Council, and district councils complement grants from national departments such as Department for Transport.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Relations

The partnership works with an ecosystem including universities—University of Leeds, University of York, Leeds Trinity University—employers like Asda Stores Limited, Guiseley-based supermarket groups, and civic organisations including Leeds Chamber of Commerce, Bradford Chamber of Commerce, and York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Collaboration extends to transport bodies such as West Yorkshire Metro, health bodies like NHS England (North East and Yorkshire), and housing stakeholders including Homes England. Cross-regional initiatives align with the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority on shared priorities such as skills, innovation, and connectivity.

Category:Local enterprise partnerships