The LEP is committed to working with partners both within the Marches, the wider Midlands and across LEP and border areas for the benefit of the people who live and work here.
The LEP Network sees all 38 of the UK partnerships come together on areas of shared importance, to work with Government, and share knowledge and good practice.
It acts as the lead commentator and negotiator for LEPs at a national level with government, advisers, businesses, academia, think tanks and other target audiences. It also acts as a central source of information and data on LEPs at a national level.
Learn moreIn March 2017, the Midlands Engine Strategy was launched as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to making the Midlands a powerful engine for economic growth. The Marches covers a huge swathe of the Midlands Engine region, which stretches from Shropshire in the west to Lincolnshire in the east and is home to a £217.7 billion economy.
Learn moreIn 2016, the Marches LEP took the decision to work more closely with our neighbours in Mid Wales and as a result hosted an event with the Growing Mid Wales Partnership to explore the challenges and opportunities that the two regions have in common.
Transport, both road and rail, was initially identified as common challenge and as a result, we have jointly developed the Marches and Mid Wales Freight Strategy with the support of the Welsh Government given the importance of both Welsh and Irish marketplaces to our businesses. Other common opportunities and challenges identified included skills, manufacturing and the food and drink sector and we will continue to work with Growing Mid Wales to address these for the benefit of both our regions.
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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.
The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.
The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.
We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.
The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.
The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk
For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk
For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk
The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com