|
|
|
|
|
The LEP secures over £35m from government to invest into Berkshire's connectivity
|
|
Businesses have reacted positively to the government’s decision to award the LEP £35.56m in the latest round of Growth Deals.
The LEP Chairman, Peter Read, commented, "The Deal we proposed was predicated on supporting the vital connectivity of a local economy that generates £34bn GVA per annum and which is one of only four areas of the country that scores highly on measures of both economic prosperity and social inclusion. This is surely in line with the Prime Minister’s ambition to have ‘an economy that works for everyone’."
|
|
Click here to read the full press release.
Click here for further details of the projects that will receive funding.
|
|
The LEP has released its first bulletin on the Industrial Strategy, which focuses on the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. The LEP's aim is to keep stakeholders in Thames Valley Berkshire informed, to gather input, and to help shape the LEP's response to the government's Green Paper and future consultation.
|
|
The Industrial Strategy is designed to build on the strengths of the UK to enable all parts of the country to succeed: helping to deliver a high wage, high-skilled, competitive economy that will have a positive impact on people's lives throughout the UK.
The government welcomes comments on the Green Paper as part of a broad discussion on the approach and ideas that it has set out. Click here to have your say and complete the consultation from government by 17 April 2017.
|
|
New Community Sector Representative appointed
The LEP has appointed Dominique Unsworth BEM to its Forum as the new Community Sector Representative. Dominique is the Managing Director of Resource Productions in Slough, and will work with the LEP to influence and shape its relationship with the Community Sector in Berkshire.
Click here to read the full press release.
|
|
Highways England has announced that the bridges between Junctions 12 & 13, which carry the M4 over Ashampstead Road and Dark Lane, near Bradfield in West Berkshire, require extensive repair to ensure they remain in a safe and serviceable condition.
The refurbishment of the bridges will take place from mid-February to September 2017. Click here for more information.
Highways England has also released the first edition of its newsletter updating businesses and commuters on progress regarding the M4 Junction 10 bridge reconstruction scheme. Click here to read the newsletter.
|
|
Network Rail has released a behind-the-scenes video of the Waterloo Station upgrade in progress; click here to view the video. Click here for the latest information from Network Rail about the improvements being made at Waterloo Station by August 2017.
|
|
Work has begun on the on the Reading section of the new NCN 422 cross-Berkshire cycle route, which will eventually run from Newbury to Ascot. Click here for more information from Reading Borough Council.
|
|
Airports National Policy Statement Consultation Events
The Department for Transport (DfT) is holding consultation information events about the draft Airports National Policy Statement.
The following events are based in Berkshire:
- 3 March 2017 - Windsor, Windsor Youth and Community Centre, 65 Alma Road, Windsor SL4 3HD
- 7 March 2017 – Maidenhead, Sportsable, Braywick Road, Maidenhead SL6 1BN
- 13 March 2017 – Slough, The Curve, William Street, Slough SL1 1XY
Events are open from 11.00am to 8.00pm.
|
|
|
Skills, education & employment
Opening of Newbury College Solutions Lab
|
|
On 30 January, LEP Chairman, Peter Read, opened the new Engineering Solutions Lab at Newbury College. The project was part funded by the LEP through Local Growth Funds. The new facility, fitted with leading technology, will enable the College’s engineering apprentices to research, design and develop components for their employers, whilst also benefiting students on full-time engineering programmes.
Click here to read the full press release.
|
|
The LEP has secured an Enterprise Adviser match between Garth Hill College in Bracknell and Ian Howells, Senior Vice President at Honda Europe.The programme aims to help students understand the world of work and the vast range of employment and training opportunities available to them.
Click here to read the full press release.
|
|
|
Enterprise and Innovation
The Business Growth Hub
|
|
|
Over the last three years the Growth Hub has worked with Thatcham based business, Phabrix. The company was set up in 2005 to develop electronic products targeted at the Broadcast market, and began as part of the government funded Thames Valley innovation and growth project run by the Growth Hub. Click here to read the full case study.
|
|
The Funding Escalator
Reading based company, Lein Diagnostics, has received a further £85,000 Thames Valley Berkshire Expansion Loan to enable the progression of its medical devices. Click here to read the full case study.
|
|
The Expansion Loan Scheme is part of the Thames Valley Berkshire Funding Escalator, a £8.3m initiative funded by the LEP. The Escalator, which also includes Commercialisation and Trade Finance Loan Schemes as well as an Equity Growth Fund, provides eligible companies with loans and equity funding between £25,000 and £250,000 for activities that will deliver high-growth and employment opportunities.
Click here for further information about the Thames Valley Berkshire Funding Escalator.
|
|
The LEP's first annual Business in Berkshire Report is released
Business in Berkshire 2017 gives a comprehensive evidence base for all those involved in business support in the local area. Bringing together information from a variety of sources, the report provides the headlines, whilst the accompanying spreadsheets provide detailed data for each Local Authority area. Throughout, there is an emphasis on growth; when more and more firms grow, more and more rapidly, sustained local economic (and social) prosperity is more likely.
Click here to view the report.
|
|
|
New appointment for the independent assessment of skills capital projects
|
|
|
The LEP is pleased to announce that Regeneris has been appointed to undertake the independent assessment of skills capital project applications on behalf of the LEP, a service previously provided to the LEP by the Skills Funding Agency. Applications are in response to the Skills Capital Prospectus issued by the LEP in September 2016.
|
|
Five Thames Valley Berkshire leaders appointed to the Science and Innovation Audit Strategic Steering Group
The Steering Group will provide a strategic oversight and guidance on the audit process, and help to position the South in the minds of the rest of the UK, and internationally, as a place for innovative business and trade. In particular, the Group will provide an insight into the competitive potential of the five industrial themes: Digital Enabling Technologies (Cyber Security, Digital, Big Data, Photonics and Quantum).
The business leaders appointed to the Steering Group are:
- Dr David Gillham - Director, Thames Valley Science Park, University of Reading
- Colin McKinnon - CEO, Institute of Environmental Analytics
- Hema Marshall - Head of Country Digitisation and Skills for Cisco UK and Ireland
- Professor Nick Reed - Transport Research Laboratory Academy Director
- Dr Daryl Landeg - Chief Technologist AWE
|
|
|
Government is open for business and wants to work with more small businesses
|
|
|
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of the economy; by 2020, £1 in every £3 we spend on goods and services will be spent with small businesses. Becoming a government supplier could enable SMEs and start-ups to significantly grow their business. Click here for more information.
|
|
|
Routes to Finance for Creative Industries Guide
|
|
|
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has created a guide for creative organisations that are looking to leverage funding and investment from both traditional and non-traditional sources. Click here to access the guide.
|
|
European Funding
ESIF Call: Low Carbon Workshops
The LEP is pleased to announce that a new round of European funding opportunities has opened up for organisations in Berkshire to support low carbon projects.
To provide more information on the details of the Call, a series of workshops is being held:
Renewable Energy - 28 March 2017, 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Reading Council Chamber
|
|
SME Energy - May 2017
Public Sector Housing - June 2017
Places are limited at each workshop so please email Ben Burfoot at lowcarbonberkshire@reading.gov.uk to register your place.
Click here for further details on each workshop.
|
|
The LEP will host its EAFRD workshop on 14 March to enable owners of new and established businesses based in rural Berkshire to find out more about how they can apply for a share of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Click here to book your place. Please be aware places are limited.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
