Authority backing vital for success of enterprise

A group of Yorkshire business people have drawn up proposals for the Yorkshire Enterprise Partnership (YEP), which would take responsibility for functions such as inward investment, tourism, innovation, access to finance and economic intelligence.

The group, led by manufacturer Barry Dodd, is proposing that the organisation works alongside the forthcoming Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), which will be established by local authorities in the coming year.

The group believes that Yorkshire needs a bigger organisation to look after its interests at national and international level and is set to meet with local authority representatives on August 17 to present its plan.

Mr Dodd said he hopes that the local authorities will support the plan and express this support in their own proposals.

Julian Smith, the Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon and an early supporter, said: "As well as engaging with businesses throughout Yorkshire, it is important that local authorities also see the value of the initiative.

"I believe there is an opportunity for strong LEPs run by local authorities, but with the very positive addition of YEP which could lead on promotion, innovation, finance and intelligence. These two roles in parallel could be a really positive thing for our region."

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has invited local authorities and business leaders to submit proposals for LEPs by September 6, with the caveat that it intends to centralise some of the functions previously carried out by the regional development agencies (RDAs).

It is understood that Tom Riordan, the incoming chief executive of Leeds City Council and the former CEO of Yorkshire Forward, is supportive of the YEP plans, so long as it has LEP representation on its board.

With a majority of local authorities voicing support, which is considered likely at this stage, it is believed the YEP proposals would win the confidence of BIS.

In an interview with the Yorkshire Post, David Ward, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bradford East and a member of the BIS select committee, gave his tacit support.

He said: "There are strong arguments that inward investment, infrastructure and support for business development would be best looked at on a regional basis but I will await the outcome of the inquiry before I form a fixed view."

His committee is expected to examine the proposals for LEPs and the ministers' response to them.

A spokeswoman for BIS said: "Ministers will consider submissions ahead of making a decision in due course.

"A White Paper on sub-national growth will be published in autumn setting out more details on local enterprise partnerships.

"Local enterprise partnerships will not have the same functions as RDAs but if the overwhelming consensus amongst local authority and business leaders is that the current boundaries of their RDA are a good match for the economic issues facing the area, then we will listen to those proposals."

Businesses are urged to have their say on the YEP consultation document which will be online soon at www.bigconversationyorkshire.org and www.yorkshirebusinessvoice.org