Leaders need to play LEP service

OLDHAM business leaders and political leaders are being asked to play their part in the formation of a Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

This is the organisation the coalition Government is creating to replace the North-West Regional Development Agency.

Almost 200 representatives from the region’s business community were at the Palace Hotel in Manchester to discuss the plans.

Hosted by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the event began with an overview of LEPs from outgoing Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce chief executive Angie Robinson.

She emphasised the importance of involving business leaders in defining the structure of the LEPs.

Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council, gave an outline of the LEP proposals and set out the recommendations from the Manchester Independent Economic Review last year, which included transforming Greater Manchester into a low-carbon economy, driving the marketing and tourism industry forward to secure national and international recognition and connecting local businesses to international markets.

He stressed that the Greater Manchester LEP proposal would enable the area to meet those challenges and take responsibility for driving private sector growth.

Plans for a shadow LEP board were outlined, which would aim to be operational in a short period of time and include representatives from the Business Leadership Council —which has a healthy representation from Oldham — Midas, Marketing Manchester, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Manchester Solutions as well as key civic leaders.

A formal LEP board will be appointed at a later date when there will be an open recruitment process to find business representatives.

Richard Guy, group chief Eexecutive of Manchester Solutions, the service delivery arm of the Chamber, called for businesses to come forward with their suggestions of how they wanted the LEP proposal to look.

He suggested a more integrated system of business support to include the integration of services at a local level, more assistance for entrepreneurs, easier access to finance and the integration of business advice services and those delivering that advice.

The audience asked questions about how the LEPs would be funded, the equality of spending across local authorities and how Greater Manchester’s bid would hope to compete with other groups.

Further details are not expected until after the comprehensive spending review in October.