LEPs – past, present and future

Rachel Quinn, One East Midlands

The 39 LEPs

What have they been doing?

• Stimulating Private-Sector led growth• Job creation

How? • Growing Places Fund – delivering local infrastructure

priorities• Regional Growth Fund – drawing private sector

leverage for job creation• Enterprise Zones – growth stimulation via simplified

planning and business tax breaks• City Deals – Removing barriers to growth

Lord Heseltine’s Review• ‘No Stone Unturned’ published October 2012• Government response March 2013 – 81 out of 89

recommendations accepted, 5 rejected, 3 in SR• Increasing Whitehall asks of / offers to LEPs - and

increasing focus on their performance• Single Local Growth Fund from 2015• LEPs to develop multi year strategic plans• Funding to be allocated though Local Growth Deals• LEPs to take greater role in EU funding distribution• Support LEP capacity

European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 – LEP roles

Lead role for LEPs – notional 7 year allocations• Develop strategy, working with wide range of partners• Select projects (commissioning, bidding and co-financing)• Identify match funding• Spend allocation (on time and in line with EU regulations)• Ensure outcomes delivered • Monitor delivery against strategy and programme priorities• Not responsible for administering the funds (remains with

Managing Authorities)

LEP allocations for ERDF and ESF 2014 to 2020 (WM)

LEP Allocation €m

Greater Birmingham & Solihull 255.8

Black Country 177.4

Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire 161.6

Coventry & Warwickshire 136

The Marches 113.7

Worcestershire 68.1

Gloucestershire 38.3

LEP allocations for ERDF and ESF 2014 to 2020 (EM)

LEP Allocation €m

Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire 249.7

Greater Cambridge & Greater Peterborough 75.5 Greater Lincolnshire 133.5

Humber 102.4

Leicester and Leicestershire 126.3 Northamptonshire 55.0

Sheffield City Region 203.4

South East Midlands 88.3

European SIF Funds 2014-2020 –timetable and next steps

• EU rules require involvement of wide range of partners to develop and deliver strategies (including civil society)

• 2 waves of guidance published, notional allocations confirmed and timescale set

• LEPs consulting stakeholders/convening events

• Draft strategy by 7th October, Final strategy in January

What have we got to offer??

Structural:• Employs 2% workforce• Spends £1.2bn in EM economy• Holds £2.5bn in assets• Access to volunteers• High level and diverse skill

base• Geographical reach – for

delivery, intelligence and to test effectiveness of interventions

• Geographical flexibility - from national to local

• Established networks and communication systems

Strategic:• Access to match funding –

cash, assets, volunteers• Existing Co-financer working

relationships (e.g. SFA, NOMS, DWP)

• Existing relationships with Managing Authorities

• Reach, data and intelligence• Assessment of social inclusion,

poverty and disadvantage• Delivering cross-cutting

themes: Planning for Equality & Diversity and Sustainable Development outcomes

What else have we got to offer??

• Operational:• Delivery specialisms e.g. digital

inclusion, skills & employability, micro & social enterprise growth, young people, health & wellbeing and environmental sustainability

• Focus on disadvantage• Rural and urban coverage• Scalability• Use of and access to social

investment products and models• Proven technical expertise of:

– community led local development,

– community grants, – social inclusion

• Experiential:• ESF, ERDF and EAFRD experience

(planning, management and delivery)

• Scrutiny of EU programmes• Co-production• Complex funding packages• Successful anti- poverty and

inclusion work• Stimulating Community Led Local

Development (e.g. LEADER)• Experience of the development of

new ideas, products and services to meet social need (social innovation)

• Working in partnerships and consortia

Challenges and Opportunities for Civil Society

• Making the case for engagement• BLF co-financing offer• Social Inclusion• Community Led Local Development (CLLD)• Equality & Diversity• Social Innovation• Social Investment / Social Enterprise• Community grants• Match funding (volunteer time??)

Challenges for LIOs

• Local leadership and capacity building• Consortia building• Engaging small groups• Intelligence and Data• Funding advice• Demonstrating Economic Impact• Representation and accountability

Quality of the relationship

• Governance– Board– Sub groups or advisory groups

• Engagement– Involvement in consultation – active input– Sector communication mechanism in place

• Strategy– Role of CS clearly identified– Strategy for Social Inclusion– Take up of available ‘social’ options

More Information and resources are on the Reach & Impact web page:

www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/reachandimpact

or Regional Voices atwww.regionalvoices.org

or atwww.europeanfundingnetwork.eu