The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is leading the development of a Local Industrial Strategy.

The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is leading the development of a Local Industrial Strategy (LIS) for the county. In the Industrial Strategy White Paper, the Government sets out expectations that each area in England will produce a LIS and states that it will work in partnership with places to develop them. They “will be developed locally and agreed with the Government. 

These strategies will help identify priorities to improve skills, increase innovation and enhance infrastructure and business growth. This will guide the use of local funding streams and any spending from national schemes.”

The White Paper sketches out a phased approach with the first set of LISs to be agreed by March 2019. We are currently in the evidence-gathering phase. Our timetable is:

  • Phase 1 (up to March 2018): Commissioning and reviewing research.
  • Phase 2 (June – September 2018): Developing a first draft LIS, testing and developing solutions from June to September 2018.
  • Phase 3 (October – December 2018): Testing and adjusting what will hopefully be a near-final draft.
  • Phase 4 (December 2018 – onwards): Reaching agreement for our LIS with national Government.

In Greater Lincolnshire, stakeholder engagement will continue throughout the development period. This includes a series of MP-led round tables to talk to businesses about what support they need to develop.

What will this mean for Greater Lincolnshire? The Government’s Industrial Strategy White Paper identified five foundations to drive productivity. They are:

  • Place
  • Ideas and Innovation
  • People
  • Business Environment
  • Infrastructure

The Government is still working through the detail of how the LIS and the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) will work together. The SEP remains a central steering document for the work of the LEP with a significant programme of work being delivered. The LIS will not seek to duplicate this work, but will build upon it.

A LEP Board strategy day and early discussions with stakeholders have identified several emerging themes. These are a starting point with the intention that they will adapt as our evidence gathering progresses, and through ongoing board input and stakeholder engagement. A summary of progress to date can be found in our board papers at https://www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk/