A total of 120 delegates from businesses and organisations across the public and voluntary sectors gave their views on how €43m of European Union funding should be spent in the Solent in the next seven years.
The event, held at the National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Naval Base by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) on September 12, is part of a broad consultation to help develop a strategy to make the most of the available funds. The money from the EU Structural and Investment Fund is designed to drive growth in the region between 2014 and 2020.
Delegates discussed where they thought the money would be best spent across a range of sectors including skills, SMEs, innovation, low carbon, employment, ICT and social inclusion. The debate produced a wide range of views and opinions, which will now be collated by the LEP and used to inform production of the strategy
The event follows a previous session at the Ageas Bowl in Hedge End where more than 120 delegates turned out to say how they think the European money should be spent.
Anne-Marie Mountifield, Solent LEP Chief Executive, said:
“This is exactly the kind of involvement from local business people and the public sector in the delivery of funding in the Solent that the LEP was created to deliver. We had a fantastic turnout of local people keen to influence how this money is spent for best effect in our region. The feedback we received today is precisely what we need to deliver a targeted programme of investment that tackles the Solent’s issues and promotes growth.”
