Chair pays tribute to Coventry & Warks LEP successes as it plans to close next year

The Chair of Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) has spoken of her pride in its achievements over the last 11 years and has vowed its legacy will live on.

The Government earlier in the year announced in the Levelling-Up White Paper that LEPs in England are to integrate into local democratic institutions and CWLEP’s Board of Directors met on Thursday (September 22) to agree it will cease its functions by March 31, 2023.

CWLEP has brought £191 million of investment to the area since 2011, match-funded by £407.4 million for a wide range of projects throughout Coventry and Warwickshire. This has led to the creation of over 17,500 jobs and support for 6,200 learners.

Three successful rounds of funding from Central Government’s Local Growth Fund have also led to building 5,500 new homes, the completion of 150,000 sqm of commercial floorspace, new Centres of Excellence for valuable local skills including WMG’s Degree Apprenticeship Centre and WCG’s Trident Centre.

CWLEP has supported Very Light Rail in Coventry which uses clean battery technology and no overhead line equipment with £2.5 million from the Government’s Local Growth Fund and £1.75 million from the Getting Building Fund.

To ensure businesses continue to receive the support they need, the Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub will be established as a stand-alone entity with a new Board and revised governance structure as a community interest company. CWLEP expertise will be retained here through the existing team who have supported nearly 5,500 businesses with bespoke guidance.

The new CW Growth Hub will also integrate Coventry & Warwickshire Champions and Coventry & Warwickshire Place Board with the new Group initially funded by legacy monies from CWLEP and Local Authorities.

The new Growth Hub Board will establish a Coventry & Warwickshire Economic Forum to ensure the needs of business are factored into future economic planning.

Sarah Windrum, Chair of CWLEP, said: “CWLEP leaves a lasting legacy of which we can all be proud.

“It has been my privilege to follow in the footsteps of previous CWLEP Chairs – Nick Abell, Jonathan Browning, Sir Peter Rigby and Denys Shortt – and their drive and determination has played a key role in our success over the last 11 years.

“CWLEP is, and always has been, one of the top performing LEPs in England, and Coventry & Warwickshire continues to outperform many other areas in the UK as an attractive location for new investment.

“This was highlighted when CWLEP successfully led the bid to build the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) in our area alongside Coventry City Council and the University of Warwick and the £132 million secured was the single biggest investment by Government into any LEP area.

“CWLEP funding has made a considerable difference to our town centres through projects like Transforming Nuneaton, Henley Street in Stratford, and the North Warwickshire Arts Challenge as well as infrastructure improvements ahead of Leamington hosting the Lawn Bowls and Para Bowls for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“Partnerships are at the heart of LEPs and that has particularly been the case in Coventry & Warwickshire where the united approach between the private and public sectors has been paramount to all our achievements.

“CWLEP has brought together our Local Authorities; District and Borough Councils; the private sector and our business representative organisations; and partners including voluntary, community, Further and Higher Education, and health sectors to achieve real impact for our area. And this approach through strength in partnership remains.

“The Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub continues its highly-impressive work supporting companies of all sizes throughout our area and providing ongoing business insight as a crucial part of economic planning.

“I would like to thank all the CWLEP Board Directors and members of the Business Groups, past and present, for voluntarily giving us their time and energy and making our region the exciting place it is to live, work, study, and invest. Their commitment has been second to none and it has been a pleasure to share their ideas and enthusiasm.

“I also want to pay tribute to the hard-working and dedicated CWLEP team who have ensured we deliver the best outcomes for everyone who lives, works, studies, or visits Coventry & Warwickshire.”