Our Vision: Supporting business growth in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire

Focus on creating the best environment we can for businesses

The LEP is undertaking a range of projects to help support business growth right now, including:

• Cutting red tape to help businesses do business
• Launching an Education, Employment and Skills Board to bridge the skills gap
• Running a business helpline that’s available five days a week whatever your business question
• Improving access to funding, finance and loans
• Providing a first class inward investment service through Make It Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire
• Encouraging enterprise through the development of enterprise zones such as Ceramic Valley in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, and i54 in South Staffordshire, ensuring that businesses have the opportunity to grow in bespoke facilities, and benefit businesses throughout the supply chain.

Continue to work with businesses to understand their needs and expectations

The LEP is a partnership between businesses and the public sector and draws on the expertise of both to drive business growth and economic success. The LEP Board and subgroups include many business leaders from a wide range of organisations across the region, who provide a unique insight into the demands placed on businesses. We also undertake regular surveys which are used to inform our work.

Revise our Strategic Economic Plan to ensure we can can deliver the jobs and business growth needed in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire

The Government is ensuring that LEPs have the resources they need to invest in the local economy and enhancing efforts to support business growth.

From City Deals to Local Growth Funds the LEP’s role is to develop a clear strategy and approach to utilise these resources to support a dynamic local economy. Some of the areas include:

• The development of skills within the local area
• Start-up support for new SMEs
• Supporting established firms to expand through export events

Strategy and progress

A strong economy is vital for the long term future of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and the only way to achieve this is to support business.

If businesses are successful they will enjoy increased profits, invest more and create more jobs. This in turn will lower unemployment, increase the opportunities available for local people and raise the standards of living – which, in turn, means that local people will spend more with local businesses and so the cycle continues.

To create the right climate for business in the region, the LEP is focused on:

• • • • • • • • • • Stimulating enterprise, innovation and inward investment
                  • Bringing forward key employment sites
                  • Supporting towns, city and service centre developments
                  • Building on existing industrial sectors and those with future potential for growth
                  • Developing a well skilled workforce to meet current and future labour market needs
                  • Ensuring appropriate housing to meet the needs to current and future workforce
                  • Developing and improving infrastructure to promote connectivity and mobility