Berkshire LEP hails ‘new start’ for county at annual conference

Berkshire LEP laid out its vision for the future of the county in last week’s annual conference, which brought together more than 100 guests at CAMPUS Reading International.

The conference also saw the launch of ‘A New Start for Berkshire’, a data-driven review of the LEP’s 2021 Recovery and Renewal Plan.

It comes in light of the Chancellor’s decision to transfer responsibility for economic strategy to local government from April 2024 – but the LEP was keen to emphasise its continued collaboration with Berkshire’s six local authorities moving forward.

LEP Chair Bob Beveridge delivered the opening remarks, discussing how – despite ongoing challenges such as the loss of many over-50s from the workplace and the economic fallout of the pandemic – Berkshire has maintained higher productivity per head than London.

He put the strong performance down to the county’s knowledge-based economy, with key strengths in technology, life sciences, and increasingly, the creative industries.

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“Recent investments have now established Berkshire as a true global hub for film and TV production”, said Bob.

“On completion, Shinfield Studios will be the fourth largest of its kind in the country. Combined with Bray and Arborfield Studios, Berkshire will have the main part of the largest cluster of film studios in the UK, Creative South East.”

Bob explained how the LEP has worked to foster growth in these sectors through a new series of skills bootcamps – ‘short, sharp, job-focused courses’ which guarantee each participant an interview and have already helped many to secure full-time employment.

These are supplemented by the Careers Hub and its work to connect local schools and colleges with employers and apprenticeship providers.

Bob also shared news that the LEP has reached an agreement with Berkshire Leaders’ Group to continue to deliver core functions on their behalf from next April.

“That means we'll be able to maintain the quality of our programmes, ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities, and work in full collaboration”, he added.

“I think more than ever, Berkshire needs to be collaborative. I’d like to see big and small businesses working together, building on our strengths and using our knowledge and skills to drive our economy forward.

“A strong Berkshire is essential for a strong UK, and we’re committed and proud to continue working as a catalyst for growth.”

Bob handed over to Alison Webster, CEO of Berkshire LEP, who had more to say on the future role of the organisation.

“The LEP is the oil that makes the Berkshire economy engine run smoothly”, she explained. “We join things up across the six local authorities.

“There are some things that are appropriate to do a very local level, but others like business support, skills and transport infrastructure require pan-Berkshire initiatives.”

So, where other LEPs across the country have all but faded away since Westminster pulled the plug, Alison and the team will maintain a strong presence in the county.

That much is made clear in A New Start for Berkshire, which details plans to foster a ‘good growth, good jobs’ economy – not least through a concerted effort to encourage the thousands of over-50s furloughed during the pandemic back to the workplace over the coming years.

It also means investing in infrastructure, supporting businesses large and small, and developing skills through LEP initiatives like the bootcamps and Careers Hub.

“Our vision for good growth that delivers jobs, sustainability and inclusivity is the driving force behind every decision that we make”, added Alison.

“We’ve got a bit of a journey in front of us, but we’re committed to delivering lasting value for Berkshire.”

Guests then heard from keynote speaker Dave Coplin, onetime ‘Chief Envisioning Officer’ for Microsoft, whose talk on AI and the opportunities it could bring to businesses particularly resonated with Berkshire and its strengths in the digital sector.

A panel discussion followed, which saw Westcoast Executive Director Alex Tatham champion the value of the Careers and Enterprise Company in local skills development, and Resource Productions CEO Dom Unsworth forecast an imminent boom for the county’s creative industries.

Meanwhile, Steve Bulley highlighted the important work of Berkshire Growth Hub with SMEs and entrepreneurs across the county, and UK Property Forums MD Matthew Battle shared his perspective on the world of work post-Covid.

The headlines? Berkshire LEP is here to stay – though perhaps under a new name – and with the backing of the county’s key industries, it will continue to build the skills and infrastructure needed for a strong local economy.

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