Agenda item

(To receive a report by Ruth Carver, LEP Chief Executive, which requests members to note and comment on the direction and focus of the Local Industrial Strategy ahead of drafting and co-production with central Government)

Consideration was given to a report which set out the development of Greater Lincolnshire's Local Industrial Strategy.  Members were advised that Local Industrial Strategies were being developed across the UK with the aim of addressing issues affecting low productivity (in terms of business efficiency) and regional disparities to create growth and improve living standards across the country.

It was reported that the central aim of the strategy was to put Lincolnshire in a strong positions for the future.  It was a long term strategy to support the county's growing business sectors.  This meant taking into account of how the economy would evolve in the future and how trends such as technological change, globalisation and demographic change were likely to impact on the economy.

Greater Lincolnshire LEP, alongside central government, public, private and third sector stakeholders had been developing the work on a Local Industrial Strategy over the last 18 months and were now in an advanced stage in relation to the production of the strategy.  It would be considered by the LEP board before being sent off to the government.

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         The presence of the RAF presented a massive opportunity for Lincolnshire.  There were a number of US companies that were considering moving to Lincolnshire to be close to the bases.  There was a need to keep people in the county after they left the RAF.

·         It was commented that there were a lot of good things taking place in Gainsborough, including the continued success of the Marshall's Yard shopping centre and Ping, a major golfing equipment company was also located in Gainsborough.  There were also a lot of smaller engineering firms located in the area, many of these were taking on apprentices.  Members were informed that the strategy document was very place based, and it would include a narrative around Gainsborough.

·         Each part of Lincolnshire needed to get the investment it required.  The Executive Councillor pledged to ensure that no part of Lincolnshire was left behind.

·         It was commented that people had to work close to where they lived, due to issues with public transport, which could be a barrier to people working outside of the county.

·         It was highlighted that there had been investment in both Caistor and Gainsborough and both of these towns had grammar schools.  It was suggested whether education was one thing which could be examined to keep people in the county.

·         There were two universities in Lincoln, and the University of Lincoln was now in the top 20 UK universities (The Guardian University Guide 2020).  It was also attracting a lot of international students, particularly from China.

·         The GLLEP had been working with 5/6 engineering businesses where they had set out the amount of apprentices they would take on for the next few years.  It had also been working with Lincoln College so that the right skills were being taught for what would be needed in the future.  Businesses were being encouraged to collaborate and work together to identify future skills needs.

·         It was highlighted that the big negatives related to the poor connectivity in the east of the county, as people moved away and did not come back due to the poor connectivity.  It was acknowledged that there were challenges with the eastern side of the county, including a lack of public transport.  However, it was highlighted that Micronclean, one of the biggest businesses located in Skegness, recruited many apprentices from Skegness Grammar School.

·         There was a need to understand what businesses were looking for in terms of future work force and then match them up.  There was also a need to make young people realise that there were opportunities in the county.

·         It was highlighted that the new medical school was oversubscribed in its first year.

·         The final draft of the Strategy should be ready for consideration by the Committee at its next meeting on 26 November 2019.  It was requested that the working draft be circulated to members when it was ready.

RESOLVED

1.    That the development of the strategy currently underway by Greater Lincolnshire LEP at the request of central government be noted.

2.    That the working draft of the Strategy be circulated to members of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee when it was ready.