Business Group update - June 12th 2015

Read below to find out more about our Business Group meetings in June 2015.

Focus on...Construction & Infrastructure

Chaired by Stephen Limbrick, Roberts Limbrick

The Joint Core Strategy starts its Examination in Public ( EiP ) on 19th May. Following intense negotiations a joint letter of Cooperation focusing primarily on the respective employment land issues around J10 in the JCS and SEP was agreed and signed by the LEP and JCS on 14 May 2015. The input of the group was instrumental in achieving this agreement.

The LEP is now looking, with other key stakeholders, to form a J10 Masterplanning Steering Group to look at how to realise the full potential of J10. The likelihood is that this will be chaired by Mike Dawson, Chief Executive at Tewkesbury Borough Council. The Group will have an integral role in this, particularly in aligning and engaging any of its members who have a professional interest in this development.

The group is now considering how they can help support the three districts outside the JCS with their economic growth ambitions including providing them with market advice and intelligence where possible. They have already started with the Cotswold District and a successful preliminary meeting has already been held with their Senior Planners. 

Focus on...ICT Sector Group

Chaired by Ian Bourne, Cloud 2020

The group have devised ambitious plans following a review by ICT Sector Group members.

The key activities going forward that have been identified are:

•       Engaging with other businesses in the ICT sector to involve them in activities of the LEP

        Sector Group

•       Providing schools and FE/HE with support activities

•       Help SMEs recognise how ICT can help their business grow and be more profitable

To encompass the above the group plans to develop a series of webinars to be aimed at the key groups. 

Business Membership Group

Chaired by Terry Lockwood, Paravail

With the aim to encourage greater participation from membership groups around the county, the BMG have been inviting the 50 plus membership groups to put forward agenda items for consideration at their meetings.  The group is also holding meetings across the county with the last meeting taking place in Cirencester.  The focus of the meeting was to support the expansion of the Growth Hub and ‘spokes’ that will be rolled out across the county starting later this year.

Creative Industries Sector Group

Chaired By Chris Isaac, The Isaac Partnership

The Creative Sector Group Tour took place in May, with local creative businesses join GFirst LEP to visit secondary schools and explain the many ways in which the students can embark on a creative career. The creative tour visited 8 schools across the county, presenting to over 500 students. The Isaac Partnership produced a video about the creative sector in Gloucestershire, featuring inspiring examples of creative roles.

Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing Sector Group

Chaired By Neill Ricketts, Versarien

The group has now signed off a survey which aims to gather evidence from up to 50 businesses and demonstrate the demand for a county specific fund that could enable companies to access capital asset funding (grant or loan).  

Funding to support the manufacturing and engineering sector, primarily SMEs, has been successfully applied for and distributed in other LEP areas and we are hoping that should further opportunities be announced by government we will be in a strong position to submit a bid.

The survey will be circulated over the next few weeks.

The group is also looking to raise enough money to support another primary school project with STEMWorks. This will be the fourth year that the project has been supported by the sector group.  Last year’s project worked with 40 primary schools and more than 2000 students.   The new project will start in September and schools enrolling will also be  offered an extra day of activity using Minecraft and focusing on the design of the University Technical College which will be built at Berkeley on the GREEN Campus.

The Banking Sector Group

Chaired By David Goodall, Barclays

Under the Chairmanship of Chris Mears from Santander, the group have agreed to widen their remit to cover other areas of Access to Finance ( AtF ). At their May meeting the group received presentations from specialists in Business Angels, Crowdfunding, Business, Growth Service and Gloucestershire Infrastructure Investment Fund.  The intention is to provide a range of joint workshops with other AtF providers based on the needs of businesses.