LEPs receive start-up cash
Two of the East Midlands' local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) have received all of the cash they asked for from the government's £5m start-up fund.
The Greater Lincolnshire and South East Midlands organisations received all of the cash they requested.
Leicester and Leicestershire's LEP was awarded 73 per cent of its proposed funds. The Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire's partnership received just 69 per cent of the funding it requested, the second lowest in the UK.
All 32 bids from LEPs across the UK received some or all of the cash they asked for, the government has said.
The LEPs put in bids worth £5.5m - 18 were offered what they asked for in full while 14 were offered a reduced amount.
The fund aims to help LEPs finance training and other initial costs as they work towards establishing themselves.
Business minister Mark Prisk made the announcement as he met with the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly local enterprise partnership.
He said: "It's important we give local enterprise partnerships, such as the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly partnership, as much support as we can as they set themselves up and identify what their priorities are.
"The start-up fund will allow them to pay for things such as training for the board members, as well as support their work engaging with the wider business community. In some cases, the partnerships have come up with some really innovative ways of using this money.
"This financial support will help the partnerships move up a gear."
The start-up fund is a one off pot of money for 2011-12.
