The Role of the Black Country LEP

The Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) aims to create the conditions for enterprise to flourish, improving the economic prosperity of the Black Country area by co-ordinated action to stimulate the drivers of economic development, including increasing the levels of employment, improving the levels of businesses operating within the area, and through modernising and diversifying the business base and skills levels across the workforce in order to close the productivity gap (of £6bn per annum) the area faces. It will do this by co-ordinating a range of actions focussed on addressing "Barriers to Growth” as articulated in the Black Country LEP submission to Government in Autumn 2010.

For the most up-to-date Black Country LEP news and information, just visit the Black Country LEP website.

Key Objectives

Planning

Businesses need to have the right environment to facilitate business growth and investment.

Transport

Businesses require accessibility and reliability improvements on the infrastructure network to quickly, efficiently and on a timely basis move their employees and visitors to and from the workplace, and their products to and from varied destinations, locally, nationally and globally.

Access to Capital / Investment

Businesses need better access to capital and investment funds. We need to develop new and innovative approaches to bring together public and private assets to generate "Joint Venture” funding solutions.

Business Advice & Support

The Black Country is characterised by low business density and low numbers of new start ups. Businesses need enhanced access to quality advice and support to assist them to become more competitive and increasingly knowledge-led.

Skills Development & Education

The Black Country is one of the weakest sub-regions in the UK in terms of its education and skill levels. Businesses have difficulties in recruiting skilled employees and there is a need to increase the match of demand (businesses) to Supply (colleges, private providers etc).

International Trade

Exports are vital to diversifying the income base of the Black County business, especially manufacturing business. Profile in international markets requires greater effective engagement and co-ordination locally and nationally.

Communication and Image

The knowledge of what the Black Country has to offer investors and businesses to enable them to grow markets and attract skilled staff and investment needs repositioning positively.

For more information, just visit the Black Country LEP website.