Image of black laptop keyboard with female hands over it
Two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are now working together in an attempt to secure funding to boost the county’s economy.
The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) and the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP) have joined forces to ensure regional projects receive extra funding.
The Government announced a £1.8 billion Local Growth Fund in its March 2016 budget in a bid to encourage ambitious projects around the country.
Stephen Catchpole, chief executive of SEMLEP, told the NEP website: “We are essentially competing with LEPs all across the country to secure funding for the South East Midlands so it makes sense for our two LEPs to join forces and we are delighted to be working in partnership with NEP to seek ambitious transport, infrastructure and skills projects to put forward to government.
“The stronger our projects, the greater our chance of success so we have written to key partners, including local authorities, universities and colleges, to invite submissions and are looking for projects that are both ambitious and innovative and which will help us increase growth and create new jobs and new homes across our area.”
Potential projects must be submitted to SEMLEP using a bespoke Pro Forma by no later than Monday, June 13.
SEMLEP and NEP are now in the process of procuring consultancy support, through a competitive process, to provide an independent appraisal of project proposals.
The country’s 39 LEPs have shared £7.3 billion from the Government’s growth fund deals since 2015.
SEMLEP was previously allocated £79.3m in round 1 of the Local Growth Fund and £46.7m in round 2 to deliver jobs and infrastructure across the SEMLEP area.
You can read the full story via the NEP website here.