Pickles visits Coventry and Warwickshire LEP
The progress of the Coventry and Warwickshire local enterprise partnership (LEP) has been outlined to local government secretary Eric Pickles. Chairman of the LEP, Denys Shortt, met Pickles to discuss the workings of the newly-formed organisation.
Pickles was the main driving force behind the establishment of LEPs, which will replace the redundant regional development agencies when they are abolished next year.
Shortt said that although it was still early days for LEPs, he felt it was important that the minister received feedback.
He said: “We ran him through our board and the quality we feel we have from both private and public sectors, outlined the way we have liaised with business through the Chamber of Commerce and the FSB, and the progress underway on subjects such as access for finance and tourism.
“But while we think we have moved swiftly, it is the next weeks and months which will determine how successful we will be. We have set the foundations but now we need to keep building.”
Eric Pickles said: “It was good to learn of the real progress that is being made in Coventry and Warwickshire.
“The LEP has identified business issues and is addressing them head on and really trying to remove the barriers to growth.
“It just the start we would have wanted and found the update very useful.”
