Solent LEP unveil seven priorities for region's future

Published by

Sam Pither

The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has published its delivery plan for next year.

The organisation has revealed plans to set the region on a path of green recovery, improve career opportunities and ensure the Solent's communities thrive.

Rachael Randall, Chair of the Solent LEP, said: "Our Delivery Plan supports our long-term vision: Solent 2050, which will level up our region, create jobs, drive innovation, and ensure a prosperous economy.

"The Solent LEP is committed to building positive, sustainable growth for our region with a continued investment focus on the Solent's green recovery, and the Delivery Plan for the coming year demonstrates how we will work with partners to establish routes into a new age of careers for local people, creating jobs within environmental and technological industries that will take the region to a more sustainable, net-zero future."

The plan sets out seven priorities to ‘maximise opportunities and capitalise on [the] region’s strengths’. These are:

Supporting the marine and maritime economy
Pioneering approaches to climate change adaptation and decarbonisation
Cementing [the Solent’s] position as the UK’s capital of coastal renaissance, harnessing new technologies and approaches to revitalise coastal communities
Developing a visitor, creative and cultural economy, capitalising on the Solent’s natural beauty and rich maritime history
Developing a world-class talent base
Supporting an outstanding business environment
Put health and wellbeing at the heart of economic success

The plans show an aspiration to position the Solent as the UK’s capital of coastal renaissance, harnessing new technologies, revitalising coastal communities, and ensuring growth is inclusive.

Rachael continued: “Our Delivery Plan shows how we will work with business, schools and colleges, local councils and national organisations over the coming year to provide communities right across the region with greater opportunities that will inspire the future workforce, create an outstanding business environment that encourages innovation, fosters collaboration and enables businesses of all sizes and sectors to succeed.

"The Solent region is a great place to be - to live, work and study. We want to maximise our region's mix of unique natural beauty and cultural heritage to ensure a thriving visitor and creative economy; ensure people at all stages of their career can build the skills they need for the jobs they aspire to, and work with businesses and educators to bridge the skills gap so our region can truly thrive."

Anne-Marie Mountifield is Chief Executive of the Solent LEP, and Chair of Maritime UK Solent, the industrial cluster for the region. Maritime UK Solent was established by the Solent LEP to provide leadership for the region's thriving maritime sector, through activities supporting growth and collaboration.

Anne-Marie said: "A key part of our strategy for the next year is to move forward with Maritime UK Solent which promotes the Solent's world-leading marine and maritime business cluster on an international stage, helping to realise the full potential of this significant sector.

“It will play a key role in the future prosperity of our region and to levelling up through encouraging investment, driving innovation and pioneering green technology while providing skills opportunities and a brighter future for our young people.

"We are seeing the fruits of collaboration that drives innovation, including a successful bid led by Solent University to develop an Institute of Technology; it will focus on higher technical skills across digital technologies, engineering and maritime, offering the opportunities our communities a future that they deserve and a pipeline of skills which employers need for continued success."

Featured image: CCI facilities, University of Portsmouth.

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.