Lord Heseltine is the keynote speaker at The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership’s event No Stone Unturned: Solent Growth Summit on November 28.
The Conservative peer and former Cabinet member is driving the Government’s strategy to stimulate growth in local areas and will outline his thinking to an audience of Solent business leaders.
His landmark report ‘No stone unturned in pursuit of growth’ has set out a comprehensive economic plan to improve the UK’s ability to create wealth. It makes the case for a major rebalancing of responsibilities for economic development between central and local government, and between government and the private sector.
Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage, who is also Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Local Growth and small business owner, will also address the event, which takes place at the Botleigh Grange Hotel.
All delegates to the free event – a maximum of two from any organisation – will also have the opportunity to take part in a consultation session on the Solent Strategic Economic Plan, a cornerstone of the strategy to drive economic growth in the region.
The day will also witness the signing of a landmark agreement between the Solent LEP and the Hampshire and Island Business Alliance, a joint venture by business support groups in the Solent. The agreement is designed to remove confusion about business engagement with the LEP and consolidate activity to provide the most cohesive structure possible.
Doug Morrison, chairman of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “We are leading the way here in the Solent developing an ambitious local growth strategy and that’s why Lord Heseltine, who is shaping Government policy on regional growth, is keen to communicate his vision directly to us.
“The creation of the Hampshire Business Alliance is another way that the leading members of the business community and LEP are both are in tune with his approach and it is fantastic to have the opportunity to hear first-hand how he sees the future.
“I’d urge Solent businesses and representatives of the voluntary and public sectors not to miss out on the fantastic opportunity to contribute to our future prosperity by helping to shape the Solent Strategic Economic Plan.”
