We will be moving offices on Friday 18 May, during which time there will be some disruption to our email.
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Tell us about your future skills needs…
The Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has joined up with LEPs across Yorkshire and the Humber for a major new study that is looking at the future skills needs of employers in the region. The research is being funded by the Skills Funding Agency and asks employers to tell them about their training needs and plans, including how well the education and training system will be able to respond to these.
As such, we would like to invite you to take part in the skills research survey, which covers a range of skills and recruitment related topics and provides the opportunity for you to influence local employment and skills strategies.
The survey can be accessed online by clicking on the link below. For further information, either about the survey or the research project more widely, please contact Tim Allan at ekosgen: tim.allan@ekosgen.co.uk
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/yorkshireandhumberskillssurvey
Please note that the deadline for responses to the survey is Friday 4 May 2012.
We are also conducting a telephone survey of employers that asks many of the same questions as this online survey. If you have already taken part in the telephone survey, there is no need to complete this version as well.
All information provided by businesses will remain completely confidential under the Market Research Society Code of Conduct. Results will only ever be reported at a group, not an individual, level. Your participation will provide valuable evidence that can be used to help influence training provision in your local area going forwards.
Many thanks for your help. The information will play a big part in ensuring that training provision available across the region responds to changing employment and skills needs and that we equip local people with the skills and education that the Humber needs for future growth and economic success.
Businesspeople from across the Humber are being invited to apply to join the Advisory Board of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Forum.
The Humber LEP Forum exists to involve local businesses and stakeholders in the LEP’s plans and activities. The Advisory Board will support LEP Forum Chair Richard Tuplin in leading this work and offer advice to the LEP Board.
The Advisory Board will also be responsible for organising the LEP Forum’s open meetings, which will be held several times a year. The first of these, which featured guest speaker Danny Alexander MP (the Chief Secretary to the Treasury), was attended by over 270 people last month.
The Advisory Board will include the chairs of key local business representative organisations, as well as several individual businesspeople. There are a total of 15 places available. Potential members can email info@humberlep.org for more information on how to apply. The deadline for applications is Friday 25 May.
Richard Tuplin, Chair of the Humber LEP Forum, said: “The Advisory Board will be where we bring together some of the key people and organisations who want to help the LEP succeed. We will be a critical friend when we need to be, but we also won’t be afraid to get stuck in and support the LEP to do more.”
Lord Haskins, Chair of the Humber LEP, said: “We’re fortunate that the local business community is hugely supportive of the LEP. I asked Richard to set up the LEP Forum to harness that enthusiasm and help us do more than our Board of 14 can achieve on its own.”
An economic boost to the Humber economy worth over £200 million came into effect today (Sunday 1 April 2012).
A £150m write-off of debt on the Humber Bridge will enable tolls to be halved for cars, with similar reductions for other vehicles. On the same day, the Humber LEP’s two Enterprise Zones will come into effect, with a package of incentives worth over £50m to potential investors.
The Humber LEP’s Enterprise Zones cover 16 sites, including Green Port Hull, the Able Marine Energy Park, the BAE Systems site at Brough and the Port of Grimsby East. The Humber LEP is the only LEP in the country to have two Enterprise Zones, which gives it the largest allocation of land – at around 500 hectares – and the largest package of financial incentives.
Incentives on offer to investors from 1 April will include Enhanced Capital Allowances on plant and machinery worth £50m to support up to £500m of investment, and discounted business rates worth up to £275,000 per company. A simplified fast-track planning process will also be introduced on many of the sites over the next few months. The Enterprise Zones are designed to attract investment in renewable energy.
Later this year the Humber will also begin to benefit from Round 2 of the Regional Growth Fund, with £25m won by Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council and £10m won by North Lincolnshire Council; and the Growing Places Fund, with £8.7m to be invested by the Humber LEP.
Taken together, the total value of funding won from the Government in the last year to support economic growth is almost £250m.
The LEP and its partners are now considering what bids to make to Round 3 of the Regional Growth Fund, which closes in June.
Lord Haskins, Chairman of the Humber LEP, said: “”From this month the Humber has a large package of financial incentives to offer potential investors on a range of excellent sites, and a skilled and capable workforce that is now more mobile thanks to the reduced tolls on the Humber Bridge.
“In less than a year the Humber has won a Government stimulus of nearly £250m, based on a clear proposition for growth. That is something many parts of the country would be envious of. It shows what a united Humber can achieve by working together towards a common goal. This is a model we need to repeat time and again to make the most of the outstanding potential we have to grow our economy.”
The following is the video produced by Classlane Media of the Humber LEP Forum launch:
The Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has welcomed the announcement in yesterday’s Budget that it will receive an extra £2.8m from the Government’s Growing Places Fund.
Along with other LEPs, the Humber LEP received its first allocation – of £5.9m – in January. The LEP Board decided to use it to start the Humber Infrastructure Fund, and is seeking extra funding to build it up into a larger loan fund. The LEP was one of the first in the country to invite expressions of interest for its Fund.
32 expressions of interest totalling over £32 million were submitted to the Humber LEP for consideration last month. The LEP’s Investment Board shortlisted 12, which are currently preparing more detailed business cases. Final decisions will be made on these shortly.
A wide range of projects were submitted for consideration, including support for small business units, road infrastructure to open up land and housing development.
Lord Haskins, Chair of the Humber LEP, said:
“We wanted to allocate the first round quickly, and we will be one of the first LEPs to have done that. The extra funding, although small, is welcome and we will discuss how best to use it at the LEP Board meeting on Friday.”
For more information see www.humberlep.org or call 01482 611890.
Businesspeople from across the Humber are being invited to join the new Humber LEP Forum. The LEP Forum was launched on Friday by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP, at a breakfast event attended by 250 people.
The LEP Forum exists to involve stakeholders in the LEP’s work. It will hold open events to give businesspeople opportunities to find out about the LEP’s activities and ask questions, as well as workshops and consultations on the LEP’s plans.
Local businessman Richard Tuplin, a Director of The Insurance Partnership and Chairman of the regional branch of the Institute of Directors, will chair the LEP Forum.
The Forum will work closely with existing local business networks to develop as a network of networks, and give membership organisations the opportunity to represent their members’ views.
Membership of the LEP Forum is free and open to all. You can join the Forum by emailing info@humberlep.org.
Richard Tuplin, Chair of the Humber LEP Forum, said: “We in the Forum will very much be the link between the LEP Board and the wider business community. We want to ensure there is total and free communication in order that we can seize upon any and every opportunity that comes the Humber way, and only by involving as many people as possible from as many different walks of business life can we hope to achieve this .”
For further information about Humber LEP please see www.humberlep.org, email info@humberlep.org or telephone 01482 611 890.
The Rt. Hon. Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, was the guest speaker at the launch of the new Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Forum held in Willerby, Hull, this morning.
Lord Haskins of Skidby, Chair of the Humber LEP; The Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Richard Tuplin, Chair of the Humber LEP Forum
In his speech to an audience of 250 businesspeople, MPs and council leaders, Mr Alexander confirmed that HM Treasury had approved the Humber LEP’s request to extend Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) to the Paull site in the LEP’s second Enterprise Zone. The extra tax breaks could support up to £200m of investment in addition to up to £300m of investment on the first Enterprise Zone.
He also confirmed the government’s commitment and support to ensuring that renewable energy plays a greater role in the UK’s energy mix, and said that the Humber had a leading role to play in the sector.
Mr Alexander said:
“The Humber has the potential to establish itself as a world class renewable energy hub. This will help attract companies that can benefit from simplified planning processes, superfast broadband, and tax breaks funded by the Treasury, including discounted business rates, and enhanced capital allowances on plant and machinery.
“The Humber Renewable Energy Super Cluster Enterprise Zone is one of only six in the country able to offer companies enhanced capital allowances on plant and machinery. These allowances are worth as much as £100m to new companies locating in the area, and for businesses not receiving these allowances, business rate discounts for five years can amount to as much as £55,000 per year.
“These are major financial incentives for companies who might consider making the Humber their base.”
Lord Haskins added:
“I am delighted that Danny Alexander has come to see what we have planned here and approved our request for extra Enhanced Capital Allowances. These are extra incentives that will help the LEP and its partners attract investment to the area and show that the Government is backing us in our plans for the Humber to be a centre for offshore wind.”
Image: http://humberlep.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CIMG1314.jpg
Lord Haskins of Skidby, Chair of the Humber LEP; The Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Richard Tuplin, Chair of the Humber LEP Forum
Added Notes to editors:
1. Speech by the Rt Hon Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the launch of the Humber LEP forum is available at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/speech_cst_090312.htm
2. Enterprise Zone Benefits
All Enterprise Zones will benefit from:
• A business rate discount worth up to £275,000 (€321,434, November 2011) per business over a five year period.
• All business rate growth within the Enterprise Zone for a period of at least 25 years will be retained by the local area, to support the LEP’s economic priorities and ensure that Enterprise Zone growth is reinvested locally. The development of the renewable energy sector is the top priority of the Humber LEP.
• Government help to develop radically simplified planning approaches for the Zone, for example, Local Development Orders.
• Government support to ensure that superfast broadband is rolled out throughout the Zone, achieved through guaranteeing the most supportive regulatory environment and, if necessary, public funding.
• Enhanced capital allowances for plant and machinery in the Humber. With effect from 2012, the first three companies setting up in the designated Enterprise Zone sites will be eligible to claim enhanced first year allowances for plant and machinery, giving them an upfront cash flow benefit.
• Tax Increment Finance to support the long-term viability of the area.
3. Humber Enterprise Zone – sites with Enhanced Capital Allowances
Green Port Hull 58ha – OEM*
Queen Elizabeth Dock South 25ha – OEM
Able Marine Energy Park 225.9ha – OEM / Supply Chain
Paull 81ha – OEM x 2
4. Humber Enterprise Zone – sites with Business Rate Discount
Keystore 0.67ha – Supply Chain
Former Hedon Road Maternity Hospital 4.03ha – Supply Chain
Burma Drive 3.98ha – Supply Chain
Marfleet Environmental Technology Park 2.69ha – Supply Chain
Elba Street 1.94ha – Supply Chain
Valletta Street 3.24ha – Supply Chain
Rix and Kingston International Business Park 8.13ha – Supply Chain
Able Marine Energy Park 25ha – OEM / Supply Chain
Port of Grimsby 11ha OEM Operator / Supply Chain
Brough 35ha – Supply Chain/Incubation
(*OEM – original equipment manufacturer)
At the recent National Manufacturing Summit hosted by the Government in the Bristol and Bath Science Park, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced a further £1billion of Regional Growth Funding (RGF) available to businesses and public/private partnerships hoping to create new jobs and make a significant impact on their local economies.
Businesses have until 13th June to apply for their share of this £1billion fund. Bids for funding from private bodies and public-private partnerships across England on a challenge basis are welcomed; however, the minimum amount of grant that can be applied for is £1 million. The fund is aimed at businesses that need funding to develop but cannot proceed without public sector support.
The Humber LEP is encouraging companies in the Humber sub-region to look at the RGF as a source of funding, and those thinking of submitting an Expression of Interest are welcome to get in touch with the LEP. It would also be more than useful for the Humber LEP to be informed of any potential applications so as to assess the range of bid types being submitted. The Humber LEP will also help refer them to the correct Local Authority who will provide free support for any applications.
Those thinking of submitting a bid can obtain assistance by attending a regional Expression of Interest meeting being held in York on 20th March, although it is not a pre-requisite that you attend the meeting if you are thinking of making a bid.
To date, the fund has had a significant impact across the UK, with over 170 successful bids attracting £7.5billion of private sector investment, and most importantly, helping to create and safeguard over 330,000 jobs.
Lord Haskins, Chair of the Humber LEP said:
“Once again, businesses in the Humber sub-region have the ideal opportunity to transform their ideas about business improvement and employment generation into a reality.
“I urge anyone who has been thinking about applying for Regional Growth Funding to convert those thoughts into actions now to ensure they are in with a fighting chance.”
To contact the LEP to inform them that you intend to bid, please email info@humberlep.org or telephone 01482 611 890.
Further details on the RGF can be found on the relevant pages at www.bis.gov.uk/policies/economic-development, and information on booking an Expression of Interest meeting can be obtained from 020 7215 6758 / 0207 215 3821 or growthfund@bis.gsi.gov.uk (please mention you are from the Humber region).
The Rt. Hon. Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will be the special guest of honour at the launch the new Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Forum on Friday 9th March.
The LEP Forum, which will be made up of businesspeople and other Humber stakeholders in the LEP’s work, will meet several times a year to discuss the LEP’s plans and activities with its Chair and Board members. It will also co-ordinate consultations and surveys in between meetings.
The LEP Forum will be chaired by Institute of Directors Branch Chairman Richard Tuplin, a Director of The Insurance Partnership. The Forum is modelled on the successful ONE HULL Business Forum, which will be one of the partners involved.
The first Forum will be held at the Willerby Manor Hotel, Well Lane, Willerby, Hull, HU10 6ER on Friday 9th March, from 8.00 am to 9.30 am, including a light breakfast. Speakers will be Richard Tuplin, who will outline the Forum’s role and LEP Chair Lord Haskins, who will update guests on the LEP’s work to date and plans for the future. There will also be a question and answer session.
The Forum will work with existing local business networks in order to develop an inclusive ‘virtual’ network of businesses that have an interest in the work of the LEP. This will enable businesses in the Humber sub-region to be consulted on the LEP’s priorities, be informed of the development of the LEP’s plans and help pass on information about the LEP’s work to their own networks and stakeholders.
Membership of the LEP Forum is free and open to all. You can register your interest in joining the Forum and attending the inaugural meeting by emailing info@humberlep.org. Places are limited so booking is essential.
Richard Tuplin, Chair of the Humber LEP Forum, said: “Our role is to be the link between the LEP Board and the wider business community. We will be a critical friend, holding the LEP to account and ensuring that there is a two-way flow of information and ideas.”
Lord Haskins, Chair of the Humber LEP, added: “We actively encourage local businesses, from one-person operations to major multi-nationals, to become involved and voice their opinions. It is only by hearing and knowing what businesses have to say that we can act on their behalf as a true representative voice in the sub-region.”