Colin Davie, LEP Director, Unitary Council Lead and Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning at Lincolnshire County Council, discusses the positives outcomes of 2021 on Greater Lincolnshire.
2021 has been a very challenging year but with some considerable promise of future success. I expect 2022 to be even more demanding as we work to a new normal in the months ahead. Despite the challenges there have been some notable highlights for me in 2021.
Firstly, this was the year the RAF confirmed the Red Arrows would remain in Lincolnshire!
Despite uncertainty following the Covid pandemic, 2021 was also the year we contracted 10 out of 12 plots of land on the new South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone within 6 months of the site launch.
It was the year Team Lincolnshire focussed on supporting different areas of the LEP geography each month to raise understanding of opportunities across the whole of Greater Lincolnshire.
And 2021 was the year Government confirmed the delivery of Humber and East Midlands Freeport’s putting us in a unique position of having two Freeport’s connected to our geography to drive future investment and growth into our economy.
Finally, this was the year when Lincolnshire County Council stepped up to the plate with £10 million from our own reserves to support 900 businesses to recover and move forward after Covid. I am proud to say that we already have some great success stories and outcomes from our own endeavours on behalf of the Greater Lincolnshire economy.
May I wish you all a very peaceful Christmas and a safe, optimistic, and happy 2022.
Colin Davie
