Insider Media Limited

The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) could be approved as early as this week, according to one of the people who helped shaped the bid. George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, says there are “all sorts of rumours” flying around as to when the bid will be approved, but that Derby and Notts one was a “simple” one.

Cowcher said: “It’s all tied in with the October Spending Review, of course, but we’re confident we’ll hear pretty soon. I think the larger ‘pathfinder’ LEPs will be approved first, and because of the sheer geographical size of our bid, we could be amongst them.”

Cowcher went on to reiterate that any LEP would be business-led. “The RDAs were run by the government,” he said. “That’s not going to be the case with the LEPs. We’re pleased with the private sector feedback we’ve received so far – it’s been great, and we’re really encouraged. Also, the four local authorities involved [Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council] don’t have a history of working together, but they’ve come together to push the bid forward.

However, Cowcher sounded a word of warning on the funding of any LEP across the two counties. “If we get the go ahead, we may have to find our own resources to run the LEP on a day-to-day basis. That is why we proposed a light-touch LEP. However, there are some big unanswered questions when it comes to funding.”

Cowcher said his own future role within the LEP would be as a coordinator working alongside organisations such as the FSB and CBI.