Partner Article

LEPs need more from private sector to succeed

LEPs need greater private sector involvement in order to succeed, a survey of local councillors has suggested.

The research, carried out by ComRes on behalf of Willmott Dixon, tested local government views on the impact of localism, and the drivers and barriers to local investment and development.

Two-thirds of councillors who responded to the survey believed LEPs would struggle in practice to support local economic development without greater engagement from private companies.

25% of councillors pointed to financial constraints such as lack of funding and budget cuts as the major barriers to development, while nearly half of councillors pointed to low level of skills in the local workforce as the main barrier for inward investment.

Concerns over transport links were identified by 41% of respondents, and 30% indicated a lack of suitable property as a hinderance.

The findings are part of Willmott Dixon’s focus on localism, and encouraging councils to discuss the challenges they face, while exploring solutions. Willmott Dixon’s aim in the focus is to foster closer working between public and private sectors.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .