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North East LEP celebrates determination of region’s businesses in annual review

Helen Golightly OBE, chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), has praised the rigour, commitment and determination of the region’s business community in the North East LEP’s annual review.

Citing the North East’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, and the impact of the UK’s departure from the European Union, Helen reinforced how the North East LEP’s focused and evidence-driven approach has helped deliver a positive contribution to the regional economy following the impact of COVID-19 and EU Exit.

Helen also described how the North East Strategic Economic Plan has continued to provide the region’s economic direction of travel, laying the foundations for a stronger, greener and more inclusive economy for the North East.

Helen Golightly OBE, chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We remained delivery focused despite a national policy vacuum caused by delays to the Levelling Up White Paper and national LEP review.

“Throughout the year we have continued to develop our understanding of the labour market so we understand if our activity is working, or if we need to pivot or accelerate activities to meet changing circumstances and influence partners and government.”

During the 2021/22 financial year, the North East LEP published an interim evaluation of the North East Strategic Economic Plan, which assessed its effectiveness and impact, and implementation on the region’s economy. It shows the Plan is meeting its targets on job creation and better jobs, and moving in the right direction to reduce both the employment gap and the economic activity gap.

Helen said: “The evaluation gave us lots of recommendations to take forward and highlighted two positive points. It showed the North East LEP has excelled in providing leadership, influence, synergy and engagement around the Strategic Economic Plan. And our Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zone programmes have, to date, indicated good to very good value for money.”

The North East LEP’s Annual Review also highlights some of the organisation’s key achievements over the last 12 months, including the work of the Business and Sector Growth team, who have provided support, advice and guidance to a large proportion of the region’s business community. In total, the North East Growth Hub delivered 23,987 business interventions over the past 12 months, and 96% of businesses surveyed were happy with the help they received, demonstrating the vital role Growth Hubs play in the regional business economy.

The North East LEP’s Skills team played a significant role in the national conversation around skills policy. Michelle Rainbow, Skills Director at the North East LEP, provided representation to the House of Lords Youth and Employment Select Committee, resulting in recommendations from the North East LEP being taken forward in the committee’s ‘Skills for every young person’ report (published November 2021). The North East LEP’s Skills team also hosted the launch of the 2022 National Careers Week, the first time the event has taken place in the North of England.

Key to driving more competitiveness and growth across the region, the North East LEP’s Innovation team secured £1.03m in funding to deliver two innovation programs: Innovation Delivery Partnership and Challenge North East.

Investment and funding programmes managed by the North East LEP also made an impact across the region in 2021/22. All £47m awarded to the North East LEP area through the Getting Building Fund has been fully committed against 20 capital projects, and the £10.5m invested from the Local Growth Fund has helped create 1,500 new jobs in the North East.

Helen continued: “This year, I was awarded an OBE for services to business and the regional economy. I am immensely proud and humbled to have been recognised in this way.

“I dedicated this honour to the whole North East LEP team because I feel so incredibly lucky to have people behind me who have commitment, passion and drive like no other – who strive to increase investment and improve skills, job opportunities and purposeful business support across the North East to improve the lives of others, because they want to do the right thing for a region that is so special to us all.

“I end this year feeling hopeful, confident and determined.”

See the annual review.