The decision maker in charge of how £118 million of local growth funding is spent has emphasised the key role of Hampshire Chamber as the county’s independent voice of business.
Kathy Slack is Chief Executive of Enterprise M3, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) tasked with leading economic growth across mid and north Hampshire and south west Surrey.
Speaking to business leaders in Winchester, she said it was vital that spending priorities in Hampshire were determined in close contact with the Chamber as a strategic business-led partner.
“It’s all about working in partnership,” Mrs Slack said. “My message is that we have listened to what businesses have been saying and we have lobbied hard for funding in our area. We particularly value talking to member businesses that are active in the Chamber because of their combined importance in helping to improve the economy.”
Mrs Slack was speaking to an invited audience of 25 chief executives and other senior directors at a Hampshire Chamber dinner at the Lainston House Hotel.
She outlined how the LEP’s £118 million Local Growth Fund money, announced in July 2014, was being invested to improve core areas such as skills, transport, infrastructure, enterprise and innovation.
Mrs Slack said the £88 million transport budget has been earmarked for major infrastructure improvements, including around Basingstoke, Farnborough and Bordon. She said £24 million of it was specifically aimed at improving the quality of sustainable transport for those using public transport or who are walking and cycling to get to work, shops or leisure activities.
Mrs Slack also explained how the LEP was working with businesses and further education colleges to create and develop skills centres. She discussed projects to support skills in science and technology at Brockenhurst College in the New Forest and Andover College, and in construction skills at a new centre in Whitehill and Bordon.
Hampshire Chamber Chief Executive Stewart Dunn said: “We work very closely with both the Enterprise M3 and Solent LEPs in Hampshire. Kathy is one of the major players in securing government investment for our regional economy and it was interesting and insightful to hear her discuss LEP priorities.”
Enterprise M3 covers an area stretching from the New Forest to the M25, including major centres such as Basingstoke, Winchester, Farnborough, Aldershot, Andover and the new development around Whitehill and Bordon as well as the Growth Towns of Woking and Guildford in Surrey. The area encompasses more than 1.6 million residents, 14 district authorities and 81,500 businesses.
