Local councils are set to continue the work of the LEP and build on its legacy as they formally take over its activities.

From 1st February 2025 the strategic functions of the LEP will be integrated into the evolving mayoral Greater Lincolnshire County Combined Authority (GLCCA) as part of the Government’s plans for devolution to include economic planning, business representation, employment and skills, data capture, and shaping economic projects and programmes.

LEP functions to include the Careers Hub, Skills Bootcamps, and the UK Food Valley Programme will be operated from Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) and will continue to be delivered across Greater Lincolnshire.

Building on the LEP’s successful 14-year legacy, the GLCCA and LCC will formally take over activities and the LEP is working closely with authorities to manage an orderly transition and ensure services continue to be delivered across the region under the new arrangements.

Business support will continue to be provided by the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub.  The UK Food Valley, Careers Hub and Skills Bootcamps will continue to operate at a Greater Lincolnshire level and be delivered by Lincolnshire County Council. Activity and contacts remain unchanged.

Since being established in 2011 by local partners and the then coalition Government the LEP with its partners has:

  • unlocked over £470m of investment for transformational schemes
  • delivered 75 significant growth projects and programmes
  • supported over 1,500 new businesses and 4,850 jobs and apprenticeships
  • supported over 13,000 learners and apprentices through our projects and programmes
  • worked with almost 27,000 businesses providing personalised advice and support through the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub
  • created the UK Food Valley in a drive to become a Top 10 Global Cluster now seeing £1bn of investment a year in our agrifood industry
  • Grown the defence and security sector to become formally recognised by government as the Greater Lincolnshire Defence & Security Cluster (GLDSC) to accelerate innovation
  • Nurtured the Greater Lincolnshire Food Board and the UK Food Valley Programme made up of companies involved in the food and agri-tech industries, which together turn over £7bn a year and employ nearly 15,000 people
  • Worked with nearly 150 schools and colleges through our Careers Hub
  • Secured over 100 business leaders volunteer as Enterprise Advisers in our schools and colleges
  • Supported increasing the skills of over 1,500 learners through our Skills Bootcamps programme
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The LEP’s impressive legacy can also be seen in projects such as the Lincoln Medical School, the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone, the Engineering, Manufacturing and Technology Centre in Boston, the Agrifood Centre of Excellence, Grantham Southern Relief Road, and the Boole Technology Centre in Lincoln.

Neal Juster, Chair of the LEP, reflected on achievements. “We are immensely proud of what we have achieved working in collaboration with our public and private sector partners and we believe that Greater Lincolnshire is well placed to become an even stronger force in the UK economy, particularly as a global leader in ports and logistics, defence, clean growth and food. The LEP has created a strong and lasting legacy and is exceptionally well placed to move into new opportunities.

“We have built a superb team, and as we transition we look forward to local authorities building on those achievements and going even further to deliver for our economy, business and sectors.”

Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Councillor for Economy, Environment and Planning at Lincolnshire County Council, has been a board member of the LEP since it began, and paid this tribute.

“Local Enterprise Partnerships have shown the value in collaboration and the benefit of having direct input from local businesses and organisations into ‘bigger picture’ thinking across the whole area. The successes speak for themselves - driving economic growth and providing investment where it’s most needed.

“Going forward, our commitment remains the same: to have a strong business voice in Lincolnshire and to continue to attract the investment Greater Lincolnshire deserves.”

Building on the legacy of the LEP, a crucial part of integration will be the creation of a new Greater Lincolnshire Business Board, which will be a forum for the Mayor and the Greater Lincolnshire County Combined Authority to shape a compelling economic strategy and identity for the area, to attract new investment, build strong partnerships and act as a strong advocate at a national level.