Spotlight on 2021

This year marks 10 years since LEPs were launched, and over that time the Greater Lincolnshire LEP has developed into a well-established partner in the fabric of Greater Lincolnshire and more recently Rutland. 

The last year has continued to be challenging for all our communities and businesses and the Greater Lincolnshire economy has taken its share of that pain. However, we do know that our economy has been more resilient than most, with lower levels of job losses, furlough, and economic contraction, but some areas and sectors have been more affected than others.

We have built up a strong partnership of businesses, locally elected councillors, and FE and HE leaders which is accelerating business-led local growth for the area, and we use this to champion Greater Lincolnshire and to vocalise with Government and other stakeholders the opportunities and challenges we face. And we have used our convening power to deliver innovative programmes that are transforming local communities and economies and have invested in 34 transformational projects across Greater Lincolnshire over that period.

My overriding sentiment this year is of hope. As a board and LEP team we came together to really focus on those 'vital few' issues that could have a real impact on our economy and communities within Greater Lincolnshire, and so our 4 game changers were identified. They focus on Food, Clean Energy, Freeport and Defence - each offering great opportunity to build on already class leading growth and create employment opportunities well into the next decade and beyond. We are seeing record levels of inward investor enquiries as others recognise those opportunities and are looking to make Greater Lincolnshire their home.

This is not a given of course; much work needs to be done to convert those opportunities, infrastructure, skills and utilities need to align but we have strong optimism that this is our time - the freeport is no longer an idea; it is formed and approved by Government and will be operational in the first quarter of next year. The UK Food Valley was launched last month and has already gained traction and is attracting much interest from stakeholders. Offshore wind and hydrogen too are seeing projects confirmed and we continue to see defence investment at our bases including RAF Waddington announced recently. Any one of these game changers would be cause for real excitement but we have four!  That does not of course discount the other growth opportunities evident across other sectors.  Health for example where the University's Medical School opened earlier this year and our visitor economy which has had to withstand the greatest of pressures but continues to find new ways to bring visitors to this areas’ many attractions.  And if you haven't yet looked at the new Visit Lincolnshire web site to see what's on our doorstep, I urge you to do so.

It also remains pertinent for me to reflect on the work Ruth Carver, the LEP CEO and the team has done along with our many partners, to support local businesses through the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub and the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum during the pandemic. I would urge businesses to take a look at what support is currently available on the Business Lincolnshire website with excellent offerings on peer-to-peer networks, business resilience and export opportunities amongst many others.

We believe that we now more than ever we have an important role to play locally in the future of Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland, in this complex landscape of post Brexit, post pandemic, levelling up, freeport and net zero agenda.

I would like to thank all the LEP's partners for their contribution and support to our work in 2021 and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Pat Doody