The West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is one of the first, and widely regarded as one of the most dynamic in the country. It has Creative Industries as one of the key sectors for support and economic development, with Dave Sproxton on the Board, Paul Appleby as deputy, and Dick Penny convening the sector group.

The LEP covers Bath, Bristol and the 4 local authorities, and offers great opportunities for collaboration between companies, Universities and the public sector. There’s more information on the LEP website here 

It’s business-driven, and its first concrete action was to win status for the Temple Quarter site as an Enterprise Zone, with the mechanisms to control business rates as an incentive to inward investment. This could massively enrich the range of opportunities for local creative businesses, provide stronger links with the microelectronics and low-carbon tech sectors, and draw some powerful brands to the city.

So, it’s time for an open meeting for creative sector businesses and creative sector development & support agencies in the West of England. We know that connectivity is a priority; we know start-ups and growth companies both need support; we know we are world-leading in key areas, nationally important in others; we know we are gaining a reputation for innovation and being a can-do place. 

We’ll talk about Bath & Bristol – how the synergies can work.
We’ll talk about skills – where they develop, how they grow.
We’ll talk about SME’s – how they get support, and can grow with minimal risk.
We’ll talk about fibre – where it is, what it costs, and what it needs to carry.
We’ll talk about investment, promotion and visibility

So this is an opportunity to get involved, to hear from key individuals who have been involved with LEP development, to pitch questions and challenges, and to start forming the ideas that can shape the future of our region.

The event takes place at the Colston Hall Level 3 Terrace Bar on 27th July : 5.30-7.30pm