GFirst LEP tackle social and environmental challenges through EU funding

In support of driving economic growth through the Strategic Economic Plan that was submitted to Government last month, GFirst LEP has now submitted an additional investment strategy to request a further £35.7m worth of EU funding.

In support of driving economic growth through the Strategic Economic Plan that was submitted to Government last month, GFirst LEP has now submitted an additional investment strategy to request a further £35.7m worth of EU funding. This supplementary funding will be used to enhance the local economy and environment in Gloucestershire between 2014 and 2020 to help address the Government’s top priorities of innovation, support for SMEs, low carbon, skills, employment and social inclusion in Gloucestershire.

Working in partnership, the strategy developed by the LEP for its EU Structural and Investment Fund, reflects the interests of a broad range of economic, social and environmental partners, including businesses, public sector, rural partners and further and higher education institutions throughout the county.

The main thrust of the plan sets out key priorities in supporting the growth of knowledge-intensive sectors, increasing the export potential for SMEs, encouraging greater innovation and entrepreneurialism in the county and supporting our rural economy. The plan highlights the need to further improve the broadband coverage across Gloucestershire and to ensure the county has an available skilled workforce to support the growth in key sectors whilst tackling persistent deprivation in parts of the county.

Dr Diane Savory OBE DL, Chair, GFirst LEP said: “These are exciting times for the county. We are already seeing signs of the county flourishing with month on month decreases in the unemployment rates. As a county we have many strengths, particularly in terms of the high number of new start-ups and business survival rates and with this in mind, a key focus of the strategy will be to address some of the social and environmental challenges in the county”.

David Owen, Chief Executive, GFirst LEP commented: “Securing this additional funding will certainly bolster the delivery of the Strategic Economic Plan for the county which already sets out a number of priorities for economic growth. 

This particular strategy will support the delivery of the plan, particularly in relation to its skills and employment strands.”

To read the EU Structural and Investment Fund Strategy for Gloucestershire, please visit this page.