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www.southwestforum.org.uk
Understanding Local Enterprise Partnerships
Isabel Livingstone
South West Forum
Big Society & Localism
Exeter, 25 May 2011
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Overview
Role of LEPsLEPs & social purpose sectorLEPs in the South West
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Role of LEPs: local growth
Provide: “strategic leadership in their areas to set out local economic priorities” on issues including “planning and housing, local transport and infrastructure priorities, employment and enterprise and the transition to the low carbon economy”.
Letter to local authorities June 2010
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LEPs & social purpose sector
No mention in June letterLocal Growth White Paper suggested
LEPs should work with ‘social and community enterprises’.
Varied progress since then.
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Why involve social purpose organisations?
Significant & growing business and employment sector – £2.5bn and 4% of paid workforce in the South West
Social enterprise is an attractive & sustainable business model
Lever in resources - £35m in Dorset
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Why involve social purpose organisations?...
Support economy & business by tackling inequality & worklessness and developing skills
Strengthen communities supporting sustainable growth & resilience
Corporate social responsibility & triple bottom line
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LEPs in the South West (Oct)
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LEPs in the South West (Now)
LEPs so far...•West of England•Cornwall & Isles of Scilly•Heart of the South West•Gloucestershire
Swindon? Wiltshire?Dorset/Bourne- mouth/Poole?
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Research findings
1 in 4 social purpose organisations had not heard of LEPs before survey. Only 8% knew ‘a lot’.
Only 2 out of 296 ‘fully involved’, 86% ‘not involved’.
Networks 68% ‘not involved’.
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Barriers to engagement
“Such a private sector emphasis and no comprehension whatsoever that the voluntary sector can offer anything to economic development.”
“A perception (perhaps wrong!) that they are not interested in the kind of value (including economic value) that the third sector brings to an area.”
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Who’s on board?
4% of non-LA board members are from voluntary sector (Local Govt Chronicle)
One third of LEP Boards are all-male, 86% board members female.
2 female LEP chairs, one from social enterprise
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What’s needed?
Effective communication Wider accountability beyond the board –
effective, open ‘LEP forums’ Creative dialogue and action on sustainable
growth, resilient communities and triple bottom line
Support from central government
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South West Forum
Contact us for support and information01392 247901 [email protected] Twitter: @swfisabel
