About Worcestershire WLEP
The Worcestershire LEP (WLEP) is a business-led collaboration of private sector, higher and further education institutions and public sector partners. Our mission is to create the conditions for our local economy to grow and create more, better paid jobs, improve the skills for our workforce and raise productivity across Worcestershire. We want to transform our area into a connected, creative and dynamic county. We will achieve this by building upon our globally successful business base and ambitious, highly-skilled workforce. Over the past ten years, WLEP has firmly established itself as the key business-led organisation working with Government and local partners to drive investment in our economy for the benefit of those who live and work here.
Our Programme of Work
The remit of the LEP is broad, operating across a wide range of economic levers. The current programme of work is aligned to the five pillars of productivity outlined in our economic strategy, the Worcestershire Plan for Growth (2020-2040).
The following provides a flavour of some of the priorities identified for the current year 2022/23. The Chair working with the WLEP Board and partners will steer and influence this work programme over time.
Ideas
- Development and sustainability of BetaDen (our technology accelerator) - see www.Beta-den.com for more information.
- Increasing value of Innovate UK funding grants to county and improving HE links outside the county
People
- Further developing positive schools and employers engagement to support careers development
- Engagement in developing the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Worcestershire
- FE and HE engagement to influence curriculum to meet employer needs/demands
Infrastructure
- Delivery of funded capital programme and developing project pipeline across the county for future investment – transport, skills, digital, net zero schemes etc.
Business Environment
- Delivering against our Energy Strategy and supporting our businesses with their decarbonisation journey
- Ensuring fit-for-purpose business support via our Growth Hub and Specialist Business Advisor offers
Place
- Supporting partners with local delivery of regeneration and economic development schemes
- Ensuring an understanding of the local opportunities and challenges to create the conditions for growth and prosperity in Worcestershire e.g. commercial property analysis
Our Executive Board
There are 14 Directors on the WLEP Executive Board, 10 from the private sector and 4 from the public sector, representing our wide geography and key business sectors including our University and two tier local authority structure.
The role provides a unique, challenging and rewarding opportunity for experienced business leaders to help drive forward the economic prosperity of Worcestershire.
A list of current Directors is on our website at https://wlep.co.uk/about-wlep/people/wlep-board/. The Board operates in line with its Local Assurance Framework, also available on our website.
We have adopted the Nolan Principles, ethical standards expected of public office holders, as well as an agreed code of conduct and clear declarations of interest procedures to ensure full openness and integrity in the way Board Directors undertake their role.
Sub groups of the board also operate in line with our local assurance framework and terms of reference.
Our Board Directors play active roles in leading different areas of LEP Board work such as finance and audit, skills, risk management, Diversity champion, SME champion or, where appropriate, for specific business themes or key growth business sectors.
