The LLEP has consulted extensively in the development of the EU Structural Investment Funds Strategy. This began with a consultation event held on 5th July which was attended by over 70
participants from the private, public and voluntary/community sectors. This event explained the context for the European Structural Funds, provided evidence and sought early input on investment priorities for our area. Subsequent consultation has engaged over 150 people from a wide range of organisations.
The LLEP Board then established a Strategy Programme Board to oversee the development of the Strategic Economic Growth Plan and the EU Structural Investment Fund Strategy. This Board has representation from the LLEP, Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, District Councils, universities, further education colleges, the private sector, civic society and the managing
authorities. The Strategy Programme Board has met regularly to oversee the development of the EU SIF strategy and made recommendations about priorities and funding allocations to the LLEP Board meeting on 26th September. The LLEP Board agreed these recommendations and delegated final
sign off for the first draft (due 7th October) to the Strategy Programme Board. The Strategy
Programme Board will continue to meet monthly throughout the development of the Strategic Economic Growth Plan and the finalisation of the EU Structural Investment Fund Strategy.
In order to support the work of the Strategy Programme Board, the LLEP has set up three thematic groups to identify programme priorities, consider funding allocations and co-design programmes and projects. The three groups are as follows:
Private Sector Growth Infrastructure & Environment
Labour Market & Social Inclusion
Business Support & SME competitiveness
Innovation
Research & Development
Access to Finance Incubation ICT Transport Employment Land Housing Environment Low carbon Digital Infrastructure Employment
Skills and Training
Workforce Development
79 In terms of the EU SIF, each thematic group has met twice and due to the high level of interest we ran both thematic groups as mini workshops (as there were between 35 and 45 attendees at each meeting). The initial meeting was used to review local evidence and develop broad programme activities that met the EU priorities. The second meeting was used to confirm the programme activities, consider funding allocations and the opt-in models. In addition, some sub-groups were established to look at outputs and opt-ins in more detail. In total, 150 different people participated in this process. The following types of organisations participated in each theme groups. The dates of meetings and organisations present is attached
Thematic Group Participant Sectors/ Organisation
Private Sector Growth
Private Sector, Universities, FE Colleges, Local Authorities, Providers of Business Support, Business Council, Banks, IOD, Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, UKTI, Managing Authorities, Civic Society Infrastructure &
Environment
Local Authorities, Environment Agency, Universities, FE Colleges, DEFRA, housing associations, NFU, NHF, Natural England, National Forest,
Transport iNet, Forestry Commission, Country Land & Business Association, Civic Society, Managing Authorities
Labour Market and Social Inclusion
Civic Society, Universities, FE Colleges, Private Training Providers, Skills Funding Agency, DWP, Local Authorities, Leicestershire Education Business Company, Private Sector, IOD, Chamber of Commerce, Business Council, Big Lottery, National Apprenticeship Service, Managing Authorities
Note: in some instances several representatives from the same sector e.g. all three universities, all FE colleges, different VCS representatives etc.
We have also sought input from Trade Unions and Equality organisations. In addition to attending the Labour Market & Social Inclusion Thematic Group, representatives from Leicester Race Equality Centre met directly with a member of the LLEP team to discuss how equalities could best be embedded into the EU-SIF both in its development but also implementation. We are currently in discussions with the Trade Union Council and will continue to develop this over the coming months In addition, information about the EU SIF process has been placed on our website and organisations have been encouraged to input and comment. The draft programme priorities and allocations were made available on the website for comment following the Strategy Programme Board meeting on 23rd September.
The comments and feedback have been referred to throughout the text. As noted earlier, the process has generated some very useful ideas, not all of which can be accommodated within this strategy. We have given a commitment to partners that these will be considered within the Strategic Economic Plan.
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Membership of Private Sector Theme Group Membership of Infrastructure & Environment Theme Group Chair: Martin Traynor, Leicestershire
Chamber of Commerce
Members (organisations):
Banks Businesses
Business Support Providers (e.g. NBV, EMB) Chamber of Commerce Civil Society/ VCS District Councils DBIS DCLG FE Colleges Food & Drink iNET FSB
IOD LABA
Leicester City Council
Leicestershire County Council Leicestershire Promotions Race Equality Centre (TREC) Universities
UKTI
Chair: Christine Fisher, District Councils rep on LLEP Exec – NW Leicestershire District Council
Members (organisations):
Civil Society/VCS
Country Land & Business Association DBIS DCLG DEFRA District Councils Environment Agency FE Colleges Forestry Commission Housing Associations HCA
Leicester City Council
Leicestershire County Council National Farmers Union (NFU) National Housing Federation Natural England
The National Forest Company Transport iNet
Universities
Meetings held – 6th September, 18th
September
Workshop format
Meetings held – 3rd September, 20th
September
Workshop format
Sub-groups set up to develop project proposals.
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Membership of Labour Market & Social Inclusion Theme Group EU SIF/ Growth Plan
Chair: Marion Plant, LLEP Board Member & FE Principal – NWHC & SLC
Members (organisations):
Big Lottery
Chamber of Commerce Citizens Advice Bureau Civil Society/VCS Connexions DBIS DCLG District Councils EMFEC FE Colleges IOD
Job Centre Plus Leicester City Council Leicestershire Cares
Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire Education Business Company NHS
National Apprenticeship Service Princes Trust
Private training providers Probation Service
Prospects
Skills Funding Agency Universities
Young Enterprise
Meetings held – 9th September, 20th September Workshop format
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