The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has announced plans to establish Solent Partners: a new partnership between local industry, academic and civic leaders working together to promote the collective prosperity and sustainability of the Solent economy.
Since its inception, the Solent LEP has continually evolved, and the ambitions of local partners have broadened following recent successes including the establishment of the Solent Freeport, announced by the Chancellor at the 2021 Budget, and the creation of Maritime UK Solent as 1 of 16 private sector initiatives identified by HM Government in the Levelling Up Whitepaper during 2022.
The Solent is now targeting national recognition through Solent Partners, with a vision to become a nationally-leading, industry-led partnership that will build and grow a world-leading, innovative, low-carbon economy.
Anne-Marie Mountifield, Chief Executive of the Solent LEP, said:
“Through Solent Partners, we will continue to deliver critical activity for our local businesses and communities on behalf of Government including the well-established Solent Growth Hub and Solent Careers Hub – which has recently been successful in securing an additional £1.2m through the Department for Education to enable us to support skills bootcamps in the Solent.
“Solent Partners will also continue to deliver on our commitments to the local area, with the continuation of support for initiatives such as Maritime UK Solent which is providing a voice for our world leading maritime industry on a national and international stage.
“Alongside ensuring that the work started through the Solent LEP goes from strength to strength, perhaps most importantly, Solent Partners also gives our area the opportunity to ensure the Solent can continue to benefit from new and exciting opportunities – including those as part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Powering Up Britain policy, of which The Solent Cluster is at the forefront. “
Local leaders recognise the private sector continues to be critical to levelling up, and are committed to maintaining the integrity of this independent business voice to support economic growth and future opportunities for devolution in the Solent.
Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, has said:
“We must build on the foundations of the Solent LEP with Solent Partners, which will provide a strong, independent, and diverse local business voice in local decision-making processes through economic and sector leadership for the Solent. Alongside this, Solent Partners will connect the area’s key organisations, champion and showcase the Solent’s excellence locally, nationally and internationally as well as delivering programmes to grow the Solent economy, support businesses, spark innovation, develop talent, promote net-zero, encourage inward investment, and grow the Solent’s sector strengths.”
And how much will THIS scheme cost us? These things invariably end up making loads of money for those ‘investing’ or ‘invested’ and do sod all for anyone else. We can only hope I guess but judging by the drivel written by our glorious leader I get the distinct impression that IWC are all reading a pamphlet that they don’t really understand, but it looks good!