Partner Article

Tees Valley Unlimited hits back at claims LEPs are failing

The managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited has reacted angrily to claims that LEPs are failing to have a uniform impact.

A new report entitled ‘Cause celebre or cause for concern’ collates details on the activities of the 24 Local Enterprise Partnerships established a year ago.

From the findings of the report, the authors felt that there was a reason to be concerned that some LEPs have made little progress over the last year.

Tees Valley Unlimited was named as one of those failing to carry out its strategy promises, having allegedly only fulfilled two of six of the authors’ designated criteria.

However, Stephen Catchpole, managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited has hit back at the claims, branding the report ‘fundamentally flawed and wrong’.

Commenting on the report, Stephen Catchpole said: “We have actively engaged and consulted with businesses at numerous events and have published both a statement of economic priorities and a robust business plan.

“Our success in achieving an innovative Enterprise Zone spread over several locations and involving numerous benefits will pay dividends for Tees Valley in the months ahead.

“Our early success in winning several Regional Growth Fund bids, which have now been given the green light by the Treasury, is already resulting in work to build new factories in Tees Valley.

On the Tees Valley Unlimited website, the business plan framework and long and short-term objects are detailed, alongside the five objectives of the LEP. These include plans to develop infrastructure, local enterprise and workforce, as well as securing investment to meet the economic needs of the Tees Valley.

Stephen added: “Centre for Cities fails to appreciate the local characteristics of the Tees Valley LEP and the unique solutions it is delivering.

“Reports contrasting it with other LEPs are misleading as each LEP has its own distinct way of communicating with local stakeholders.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .