DRIVING GROWTH, CREATING JOBS AND WORKING FOR A MORE PROSPEROUS .

ANNUAL REPORT 2014 - 2015 CONTENTS PAGE FOREWORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015

P 3 FOREWORD FROM THE CHAIRMAN I am very pleased to introduce the first 4 MEET THE BOARD formal Annual Report of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) 8 ABOUT DORSET LEP The report will showcase some of our key highlights and 10 FUNDING FOR DORSET achievements, whilst demonstrating that the Dorset LEP can deliver. 15 UPSKILLING DORSET’S WORKFORCE The past few years have been an exciting time for our county, 18 with significant progress seen and made in our world-class sectors BUSINESS GROWTH AND SUPPORT of advanced engineering and manufacturing, creative industries and the financial services. Our travel and tourism industry activity is 20 EUROPEAN FUNDING ever improving and expanding. 21 INWARD INVESTMENT We also have two fabulous universities that help us to bring together the talents, research and initiatives that go towards About Gordon 22 PUBLICITY AND ENGAGEMENT supporting a healthy local economy in all these sectors and beyond. The Dorset LEP is chaired by Gordon Page CBE DL, former 23 UPCOMING ACTIVITY With such great assets at Dorset’s disposal, it is our job as a LEP to Chairman of Cobham plc and ensure no opportunity for growth, job creation, better housing or Pro-Chancellor at Cranfield better skills are missed, and that Dorset is seen as a natural place University. After graduating to do business. from Cambridge University, Gordon joined Rolls-Royce This report will demonstrate how our LEP has achieved so much in 1962, rising to become through the partnership between its private and public sectors; Commercial Director of Military a partnership that has gone on to forge, support and maintain a Engines in 1988. He joined focused driving of Dorset’s economic growth and prosperity. Cobham plc in 1990 and The impact of this partnership is becoming more visible. We became Chief Executive in are upskilling and getting young people back into work. We 1992 and Chairman in 2001, are providing more affordable housing to some of Dorset’s retiring from the board in 2008. poorest areas. We are ensuring that our county’s infrastructure He is Chairman of P H Warr plc, is continuously improving to meet the growing needs of local chair of AirTanker Holdings, businesses. Our LEP will never give up in its mission to make Dorset a Trustee of the Dorset an ideal place in which to do business. Community Foundation and a non-executive director of We have entered 2015/16 in a strong position, with significant Council Trading investment secured from Government and partners to support not Company Ltd. only the economic success of Dorset, but the ongoing success of our country.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped us to achieve such successes to date and I look forward to welcoming many more.

Gordon Page Chairman of Dorset LEP

2 3 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS

Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015

JITINDER TAKHAR ALEX PICOT DR BRUCE DIANE GRANNELL JIM ANDREWS ANDREA SMITH Deputy Chair Alex Picot is currently Chief GRANT-BRAHAM Further Education Champion Higher Education Champion Andrea is a chartered architect Jitinder Takhar has been in the Executive of Dorset Community Tourism, Leisure and Diane has recently been Jim has been the Chief Operating and has held a variety of roles in social housing sector for over Action and has worked in the Hospitality Champion appointed as Principal & Chief Officer for development and regeneration 20 years. She has served as the regeneration and charitable Executive of Bournemouth & since July 2012. Prior to this he in both the private and public Bruce is a senior lecturer at Business Development Director sector for 15 years. He has College, having previously was the Executive Director for sectors. Since 1998, Andrea has Bournemouth University and for Western Challenge and delivered a range of projects in been its Vice Principal for nearly Organisational Development, been Director of Development highly regarded in the tourism has led the team through four training, employment, enterprise, eight years. With more than responsible for the strategic and New Business for Radian, a industry. In addition to lecturing successful bid rounds, working and environment sustainability, twenty years’ experience of development and executive housing and care business that at Bournemouth University, as Lead Partner with the Wessex with a wide variety of government, the further, higher education management for most of operates across the south of Bruce is chair of Poole Tourism’s Development Consortium, now business, and voluntary and and skills sector, Diane has the University’s business and England. As a corporate director, Management Board and a Source Development Partnership. community sector partners. an MBA (Masters in Business infrastructure services. Jim is an Andrea has shared responsibility member of Poole Town Centre’s Since 2008 Jitinder has been His other recent work includes Administration) and has worked experienced Board Director in the for the strategic direction of the Management Board. He was a managing the commercial delivering European and Skills in both the public and Health and Education sectors, company as well as oversight founder member of the Dorset student company Signpost Homes Funding Agency funded training commercial sectors. Diane and is a Chartered Director of its management and Tourism Association and is a Fellow Limited as well as leading the contracts to support unemployed Grannell was appointed to through the Institute of Directors. maintenance of 21,000 properties of the Institute of Hospitality. affordable housing team and people back into work. Alex Picot Dorset LEP Board in July 2015. and turnover of c. £125m. Spectrum Housing Group’s new resigned from the Dorset LEP Board work in the open market sale and in August 2015. rental markets.

GEOFFREY SMITH ALISON MOORE RICHARD SMITH JOHN BEESLEY JAMES WELD STEVE DAVIES Employment and Alison Moore is President of Richard is the Director of The Financial & Business Rural Enterprise Champion Steve is an experienced Chief Skills Champion the Dorchester Chamber of Tank Museum, Bovington, Services Champion James Weld DL is the Chairman Executive with over 40 years Commerce and a trustee at Age which holds the world’s finest Geoffrey Smith is the General Councillor John Beesley FIH is of the Lulworth Estate, a diverse experience in the management UK. She worked for 18 years at collection of armoured vehicles. Manager of Rockley Park the Leader of Bournemouth rural business encompassing and consultancy industries. As the BT with her final role as Contract He has overseen the Museum’s and Chairman of the Dorset Borough Council. He represents property, agriculture and tourism. ex Chief Executive of Portland Director, meaning she had redevelopment over the last Employment and Skills Board. With the Westbourne & West Cliff Ward This includes Lulworth Cove and Harbour Authority, he set up responsibility for the commercial eight years into one of Dorset’s over 20 years experience within having served on Bournemouth Durdle Door, where public access a Management Consultancy aspects of multi million pound top rated cultural attractions. Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality, Council since 2000. He has been has been provided for more company, Vindelis MMC Ltd, global data networks. She has Upon graduating from Durham Geoffrey has an established track a Bournemouth hotelier for over than 100 years. The environment in March 2015. The company worked for school/college University, Richard joined P&O record for developing teams and 30 years and heads a hospitality is an integral part of the Estate provides general management partnerships and for the Kingston Containers where he spent products that consistently deliver consultancy specialising in hotel and he has pioneered estate- consultancy advice, mentoring, Maurward College, where she eleven years in the transport high standards of financial and management and development. funded ecological programmes, project management, feasibility provides a link between business industry carrying out roles in IT quality performance across a He has extensive experience particularly along the Lulworth studies, and commercial advice and academia. development, marketing and range of skill sets. of both the private and public coast. James is a founder and among many other disciplines. supply chain logistics. sectors from serving on a variety Chairman of the Jurassic Coast Steve’s career also spans of trade and political bodies Trust which supports conservation positions in Operations, Logistics alongside his business career over and education programmes and Distribution, Sales and the past 30 years. associated with the World Marketing, Commercial, Business Heritage Site. Development, Marine, Research and Development functions of business. 4 5 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS FUNDING FOR DORSET Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015 DLEPDLEP Annual Report Report 2014 2014 - 2015 - 2015

TERENCE O’ROURKE MBE JANET WALTON DEBORAH CRONEY Creative Industries Champion Councillor Janet Walton is Councillor Deborah Croney is the An architect, town planner the Leader of the Borough Leader of North Dorset District and urban designer, Terence of Poole with special Council and currently sits on the O’Rourke had a successful responsibility for Public Health Board of the Local Government career in the public sector before and Communications. Janet’s Association. Deborah was first leaving to form his own specialist background is in Local elected to North Dorset District consultancy in 1985. As Chairman Government finance and Council in 2007 and instantly took and Managing Director, he administration. Before moving to a keen interest in the future of developed this into one of the Poole to be with her extended planning and development of largest and most successful in the family, Janet ran her own the District. In 2008 she became UK, responsible for many complex successful business in the fitness the Cabinet Member for the and award-winning projects. and sports arena. On coming to Economy, developing the Local He is Chairman of the Poole she worked in the Finance Plan. Core Strategy became Bournemouth Symphony and Tourism industries before the main focus of her work to Orchestra, a Governor of the Arts becoming a Councillor in 2007. ensure that a sound strategy for University Bournemouth, and is Janet was formally the Portfolio future development is the key Chair of its Estates Committee. Holder for Children and Young to unlocking the economic and He sits on the Board of the People, a position which she held social potential for local areas in Goodwood Estate and is an for 5 years before becoming Dorset. Deborah is also a former active supporter and Patron of Leader of the Council in member for Scrutiny & Planning the National Trust, where he is a May 2015. Committees, as well as having member of the Regional Advisory previous experience in Board for the South West. Heritage Championing.

ROBERT GOULD JIM STEWART EMMA HUNT Councillor Robert Gould was Transport Champion Professor Emma Hunt was elected to Dorset County Council Jim is a member of the LEP appointed Deputy Vice - in 2009 to represent the town Connected Dorset Group and Chancellor at the Arts University of Sherborne. He was elected was appointed Chief Executive Bournemouth in July 2013. Prior to Leader in 2014. He has also served of Commissioners this she was the Dean of Art Design as a member of West Dorset in 2002. He has been involved in and Architecture at the University District Council since 2003 and the commercial shipping sector of Huddersfield for seven years. was Leader of that authority from since 1980, and has over 25 She is a member of the steering 2004 to 2015. Robert is keen to years experience of managing committee for the National work with the LEP to maximise the companies. He acts as a director Arts Education Archive and her benefits for the Dorset economy of Dorset Business and the Poole regional roles have included being and to work with government to Arts Trust and sits on the National a board member for Barnsley Civic take advantage of devolution of Policy Council of the British Enterprises and a member of the powers and maximise investment Chambers of Commerce. He is board of Governors at Halifax in our infrastructure. a Council Member of the British College; more recently, as a Ports Association. member of the Employment and Skills Board of the Dorset LEP. 6 7 ABOUT DORSET LEP

Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015 OUR Skills: Talented Dorset

JOURNEY These four key themes created the foundations from which the Dorset LEP SO FAR began to grow Business Growth: Competitive Dorset

Housing/Place: Infrastructure: The Beginning Connected Dorset Founded in 2011 and officially Responsive launched in 2012, the Dorset Local Dorset Enterprise Partnership (also known locally as the LEP, Dorset LEP or DLEP) was tasked with the challenge of bringing together public and private sector expertise around one table to strategically plan and implement government funding and private sector investment, to both improve The Vision and maintain the Dorset economy. Our ambition is for existing businesses in Dorset to flourish, and for new businesses to be created and grow. We will work to enable a strongly performing, productive and sustainable economy with more higher paid and better skilled jobs, better infrastructure, more affordable housing and a strong culture Advantages for entrepreneurship. and Challenges The Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership has a strong geographical identity with THIS REPORT a long history of the Local Councils in the area working together. Comprised of Local Authorities, universities and private AIMS TO EXPAND ON OUR partners, the LEP is a strong partnership, working for the best interests of the whole of Dorset. Our challenges are to build ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE, on the strengths of our diverse economy that encompasses a conurbation, coast, market town and rural areas; and making WITH EXAMPLES, an evidenced case that targeted investment can improve our productivity, local well-being and our net contribution CASE STUDIES to the economy of the country. 8 AND MORE. FUNDING FOR DORSET Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015 OTHER PROJECTS FURTHER PROJECTS WITH SUCCESSFUL RECEIVING GROWTH DEAL ADDITIONAL FUNDING BIDS GROWTH DEAL Port of Poole: FUNDING funding up to £23,310,000 A package of road schemes to Wessex Fields: improve access to the Port funding up to £5,700,000 of Poole An additional A338 junction to open up employment land Orthopaedic Research Institute adjacent to Wessex Fields (ODIAC): funding up to £700,000 University Business Park: A research centre of funding up to £2,800,000 excellence to attract innovative A new building to provide business Photos courtesy of Dorset County Council. orthopaedics businesses support to new digital and creative THE industry sector businesses Jurassica: CASE STUDY: funding up to £300,000 MEMO: Initial work for a new Jurassic funding up to £1,000,000 DORSET BOURNEMOUTH Coast visitor centre on the Isle To construct a high profile visitor site AIRPORT of Portland on the Bournemouth & Poole College Silicon South: (BPC) funding up to £1,000,000 GROWTH GROWTH To provide a Centre for Digital Engineering & Manufacturing: funding up to £565,150 Entrepreneurs PROGRAMME New facilities to help close Kingston Maurward College: Dorset’s high level skills gap in this DEAL (Growth Deal funding funding up to £900,000 key sector New facilities for land enterprise up to £39,500,000) BPC Financial and and employment Photos courtesy of Dorset County Council, Borough of Poole and the The Bournemouth Airport Growth Business Services Dorset Green: Jurassica project. Programme is a package of road funding up to £2,000,000 funding up to £600,000 schemes to improve access to Refurbishment of facilities to Assisting this rural development Bournemouth Airport. equip the next generation of site to realise its full potential BETTER local entrepreneurs WHY IS THE DORSET LEP FUNDING AND MORE Weymouth Town Centre: MORE JOBS THIS PROGRAMME? Dorset Growth Hub: AFFORDABLE funding up to £600,000 WITH HIGHER Bournemouth Airport is currently funding up to £250,000 HOUSING Feasibility work ahead of LEVEL SKILLS expanding its operations with Revenue funding to strengthen regeneration activity increased passengers through Flybe the Dorset Growth Hub to airlines and the development of the co-ordinate and deliver an aviation park to provide new high Dorset LEP Board members and Core team with then effective business support offer Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, at Growth Deal signing quality business premises. However, to Dorset’s businesses unless we tackle the local problems Local Growth Deals are designed to enable LEPs to better By 2021 the growth of congestion, poor infrastructure, BETTER TRANSPORT serve their local economies. In order to bid successfully for and lack of housing, the airport AND INFRASTRUCTURE deal expects to bring the funding, the Dorset LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan (SEP), will fail to reach its full economic FOR A MORE in to Dorset £650m of also known as Transforming Dorset, was submitted in March potential. To achieve this potential, CONNECTED AND 2014 and was used for negotiations with Government on investment. Dorset LEP will invest almost £40m UNIFIED DORSET the Dorset Growth Deal. Round 1 of the Deal saw Dorset LEP into the Bournemouth Airport Growth This includes around awarded £66.4m from the Local Growth Fund in July 2014. Programme to unlock and unblock key £420m private investment In January 2015 a further £12.6m was awarded as additional employment and housing sites around and £12m public funding, bringing the total to £79m. This funding is allocated the airport. By achieving enhanced to contribute to projects in the SEP like the Bournemouth access to employment sites, more jobs investment, along with up Airport Growth Programme. can be created, better housing can ACCELERATION to 26,000 new jobs and Find out more about the Dorset Growth Deal here: be supported and economic growth AND BUSINESS 3,000 new homes. www.gov.uk/government/publications/dorset-growth-deal can be both improved and sustained. GROWTH 10 11 FUNDING FOR DORSET Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015 CASE STUDY: THE GROWING THE FACTORY PLACES FUND WELCOME TO The Growing Places Fund is designed to generate economic activity by THE FACTORY, addressing immediate infrastructure and site constraints to enable the delivery of jobs and housing. It is a revolving fund based on principles of POOLE’S NEW investment, repayment and reinvestment, where applicants repay the CENTRE FOR loaned monies so that the Dorset LEP can re-invest into further schemes LOCATION AND PURPOSE across the LEP geography. The £9.4m fund can only be used for capital SOCIAL expenditure and normally has a maximum loan term of 5 years. It may Based in , The Factory be used by businesses that have viable projects, including security that ENTERPRISE is Poole’s new centre for Social can deliver economic growth, even if the business is unable to access Enterprise. It brings together alternative funding mechanisms. new enterprises and training operations and all driven by social To date the loan funding purpose. The Factory will create has been allocated to the employment opportunities in the Bournemouth/Poole conurbation following Dorset projects: and upskill people to enable them to find it easier to access employment. Centre for Social Enterprise Excellence - Alder Hills, Poole Castle Court, Osprey Quay - Portland Field International Ltd. - Poole Regeneration - Bournemouth North Dorset Business Park - Sturminster Newton PROGRESS SO FAR Transport Smarter Choices - Hamworthy, Poole • £250,000 funding to complete Cobham Gate - Ferndown the build/ refurbishment • Attracted £37,000 additional funding to deliver courses • 15 new jobs CASE STUDY: • Increased vocational courses to offer skills and qualifications BOSCOMBE in carpentry, painting and decorating, retail, hospitality, administration and bike REGENERATION maintenance • Benefited 62 learners who Boscombe West has long This, along with recent have gained qualification standing high levels of initiatives, is starting to make a By the end of 2014 ten of the THE HISTORY deprivation. The latest census difference and regeneration properties, including the home for showed that things were getting is beginning to make an mobility impaired, were under offer. Bournemouth Churches worse and the gap between impact, although the issues The development was completed Housing Association (BCHA), a the most deprived part of are complex and fundamental below budget, at a cost of homelessness housing charity Bournemouth and its surrounding improvements will take a This investment has allowed selling bikes and bike parts, home £1,194,395, allowing £305,605 of in the South West, is the parent areas was widening, with the considerable period of time. them to refurbish the former furniture and crafts, with space Growing Places Fund money to be company to The Factory. heart of the ward - Boscombe The development of 11 Remploy factory to make it into for local entrepreneurs to pop up released for reinvestment in further Central – shown as one of the affordable, low energy family Over the past decade BCHA ‘The Factory’ - a social enterprise a pitch. There is also an on site projects. The project also secured most deprived areas in the South homes is located at Gladstone has been evolving The Factory’s that offers a creative space for Café and conference facilities, as additional European funding West. The Dorset LEP Growing Mews and was completed Social Enterprise offers as a great the local community to learn, well as a large training academy. which enabled it to bring foward Places Fund allocated £1.5 million and handed over in August way to do business. They bought develop and prosper as socially One of the many great things the development of a refurbished to Bournemouth Borough Council 2014. The Gladstone Mews The Factory in March 2014 with minded businesses. The Factory about The Factory is that all the Creative Industries Hub at to facilitate the establishment of development includes the much needed support from a ensures they trade as fairly as profits they make go back into Gladstone Mews, providing further a Community Land Trust and to added value of the latest fire £775,000 loan from the Dorset LEP. possible; from how their products the community to provide more enterprise support for the area. develop 11 affordable homes for suppression systems, allotments This investment initiated a further are sourced to their pricing. It is services for people who need an local people (one of which was and a community orchard. £250,000 donation and loan from home to a modern retail space, extra step up on the ladder. for people with restricted mobility) the Talbot Village Trust. 12 on a shared ownership basis. 13 FUNDING FOR DORSET UPSKILLING DORSET’S WORKFORCE DLEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015 Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015 CASE STUDY: ADDITIONAL PATHWAY PROJECTS PROGRAMME The Dorset LEP has funded a further nine key local projects:

The Pathway £50,000 allocated to work placement programme provides £10,000 Holton Heath Trading Park paid placements and allocated to To ensure local businesses Visual Arts Market Place have access to the right training for unemployed Market research to scope services people as a stepping the development potential stone into work. of the area’s visual artists £50,000 allocated to Pathway Programme The LEP invested A work placement project £50,000 towards the supporting people back project to provide into employment match funding for £10,000 wages. The expected allocated to outcome is sustainable TOTAL employment beyond The Ecological Sequestration £28,000 Trust (T.E.S.T) the placements A feasibility study to support allocated to for those on the LEFT TO RIGHT - Duncan Breckell, Joseph Winter, Alistair Nelhams, INVESTMENT Dorset Local Nature Partnership good governance for programme. Head of Programmes at the LEP Rob Dunford, and Daniel Jones. (Photo courtesy of Spectrum) sustainable development Employment of a Local Nature £657,800 Partnership Manager

£50,000 SPECTRUM HOUSING GROUP £65,000 allocated to allocated to Housing Destination Management Funding to prepare business EXPLAINS HOW IT WORKS Organisation cases for housing and This programme has huge benefits for the Dorset Support to drive through regeneration the findings of the LEP’s community. It has provided opportunities for unemployed Destination Management £369,800 people to get proper jobs. Not volunteering, not just an allocated to Plan (DMP) unpaid work placement, but a proper job. It has also Silicon South engaged a number of local businesses to offer these kinds Support for the £25,000 allocated to enhanced development of opportunities where historically they hadn’t. We would Employment and Skills Board of Dorset’s Creative and not have been able to fund this programme without the To support the development Digital sectors LEP’s support. of a series of employment and Photo Courtesy of Spectrum Housing Group skills projects The match funding element of the programme is crucial to engaging employers. The notion of a shared burden “Pathway has given me is really important and makes the prospect of taking on someone who is unemployed less daunting and more more momentum and commercially viable. Duncan Brecknell, Spectrum Housing confidence to get back Group said: into work. Something “The support of the Dorset LEP has been critical in good to put on my enabling Spectrum to reach out into the local community and create more jobs for local people within a number CV, another thing that of businesses in key sectors. We hope to build on the employers will look for. successes of the programme so far and create more More ammo to get a job.” opportunities for the greater good of all in Dorset”. Joseph Winter, 14 Pathway participant 15 UPSKILLING DORSET’S WORKFORCE Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015 CASE STUDY: SKILLS SUPPORT PATHWAY PROGRAMME FOR THE WORKFORCE

Skills Support for the Workforce, The Skills Support for the Workforce managed by Serco Vocational initiative provides support, advice, Services on behalf of the Dorset guidance and fully funded LEP, supports business growth accredited qualifications for to enable the Dorset economy employees of small and medium to prosper and compete on a sized businesses in Dorset. national and international level. Pictured above, Norco staff (including Managing Director – Mark Northey & HR Manager Katja Northey)Training provider Green Labyrinth & Dorset Skills Hub.

Alistair Nelmans at work. The project, which has been The continued success of the Norco GRP Ltd, a Poole-based Photo Courtesy of running since September 2013, is project has brought additional company specialising in the Spectrum Housing Group funded by the European Social ESF funding into Dorset, effectively manufacturing of composite Fund (ESF) and the Skills Funding growing Dorset’s original mouldings for end users all over Agency (SFA) from the 2007-2014 allocation of £1m funding for Skills the world, linked up with the Skills EU Funding Programme. Support for the Workforce by an Hub, which provided advice on THE RESULT FINDING PATHWAY THE EXPERIENCE additional £380k. This has enabled the funding available from the Skills Unlike previous ESF projects, Skills more SMEs to be reached and Support for the Workforce initiative. “Shelley would put sheets out with “It’s good work and I enjoy working Support for the Workforce was more employed individuals to HAVING DISCOVERED jobs on a table at the Job Centre. with the people I work with too. It’s the first ESF programme to focus Mark Northey, Managing Director be trained. I spotted this and asked what it that little step back into work. It on skills priorities set by Local of Norco GRP Ltd, commented, THE PATHWAY was about. It sounded interesting helped me because I was out for a Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), The funding for the ‘Skills Support “At Norco we really believe in and something I wanted to do. little while and I needed that push reflecting the increasing role that for the Workforce’ initiative looking after our people. Working PROGRAMME, to get back into it. My dad had been part of Siemens Local Enterprise Partnerships play includes a local response fund, with the Dorset Skills Hub has WHILST ON A WORK in Southampton and knew I’d been struggling for so long in determining the effective use of designed to provide flexibility to meant that we have been able to the company. As it is a good that it was finally, yes, I could try European Funding at a local level. support additional or changing find out about funding and take needs throughout the duration of advantage of what is available. PROGRAMME COURSE company and massive, this was and get my foot in the door of The skills priorities for Skills Support the project. Serco, in partnership This has resulted in our workforce the best way to get into something somewhere and hopefully stay on.” for the Workforce are to support with the LEP’s Employment and having increased their skills WITH BOURNEMOUTH like this.” the following priority sectors in Skills Board and the Borough of and knowledge.” Dorset: creative industries, finance Poole, was able to use this funding AND POOLE COLLEGE, and banking, health and social NEW SKILLS PERSONAL GROWTH to establish the Dorset Skills Hub. care, environmental, tourism, “I learnt a wide range of skills “The programme has given me so The Skill Hub has been instrumental ALISTAIR NELHAMS engineering and food and drink. including technical skills, Printed much more confidence to talk to in signposting employers and Serco manages the contract Circuit Board (PCB), at school. people again as I had become businesses in Dorset to the funding SHARES HIS JOURNEY. which is delivered locally through very closed. Now I could approach options available to them to train I learnt the manufacturing side its sub-contractor network of anyone, somebody I have never met, their staff and provides advice of things too. colleges and training providers. talk to them and hopefully work and information on the range of I also learnt how to set myself from there. The project, which ends in July training options available. specific goals and targets as 2015, has enjoyed considerable Eight weeks feels a long time, but part of my journey and personal success with over 750 staff from it does reap its rewards if you are development.” 200 businesses taking up the willing to work hard enough and get support since its launch. that job.” 16 BUSINESS GROWTH AND SUPPORT

Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015 WHAT THIS MEANS FOR DORSET GROWTH HUB DORSET ENTERPRISE? A NATIONAL EXEMPLAR A CASE STUDY A key component of Dorset LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan, the DORSET Dorset Growth Hub has been established to support businesses that GROWTH HUB want to grow, increase employment, improve competitiveness and encourage inward investment into the area. Growth Hubs are SUPPORT designed to boost economic growth by introducing a new approach to the co-ordination of business support and providing a resource Lou Brown Designs for bespoke business, innovation and trade support schemes. Dorset A SMALL INDEPENDENT Growth Hub is considered a national exemplar of this initiative and CREATIVE BUSINESS BASED provides a one stop shop through web-portal, phone line and on-line IN DORSET; LOU CREATES advisors. They also provide Business Navigators, who help businesses BESPOKE GIFT ITEMS SUCH find their way through the vast support landscape available to them AS CUSTOMISED CHILDREN’S and to access relevant services, whilst identifying and supporting BOOKS, DIY CRAFT KITS, DORSET GROWTH HUB businesses with viable growth plans. JIGSAWS AND NOTEBOOKS. KEY PERFORMANCE Find out more on their website at: www.dorsetgrowthhub.co.uk NEEDS IDENTIFICATION INDICATORS Lou needed to formalise her 1st APRIL 2014 – 7,090 business processes and get to grips 10th MARCH 2015 businesses with the day to day running of the 517 engaged business rather than producing DORSET GROWTH HUB all the products herself. The initial businesses (unique website SOLUTIONS FOR LOU received up users and event meeting at Lou’s home identified to 3 hours attendees) those needs and further identified The Dorset Growth Hub team Lou was also looking to employ assistance 199 the next steps required for the introduced Lou to Dormen, a local staff and is very passionate businesses business to help sustain and business mentoring service, to about supporting individuals who received intensive create growth. help her keep a track of her may have struggled to find work. Lou was previously in receipt of a 6,681 specialist support business goals and also be a 36 successful grant Disability Living Allowance due to unique visitors NEXT STEPS sounding board during her time fund applications of growth. The Dorset Growth Hub a medical condition so wanted to the website • New larger premises were with viable Business Navigator listened to to consider applicants who may needed as manufacturing was 10,279 Lou’s requirements and provided have been in a similar position business growth being restricted in her dining total visits plans to create Total value of reassurance that a move to bigger to herself. to the website room at home 190 new jobs contracts approved: premises outside of the family The Dorset Growth Hub team have across Dorset £5,467,113 • New staff - Lou wanted to home would not only improve suggested working in conjunction (including match employ three new staff to productivity, but help to support with Prospects Services and the funding) help sustain her growth of the her very busy family life as mother Work Programme to give interview company of twins. The role of the Navigator opportunities to the long term here was to understand her unemployed and sick. The Dorset RESULTS business needs and offer support. Growth Hub team have been Good listening and empathy were • The result is new larger giving regular phone and email crucial at this stage of the Dorset support from the initial enquiry to premises to cope with product Growth Hub’s support. demand ensure that Lou’s business growth and investment is as supported To encourage growth within Lou • One full time job and two part and structured as possible. time positions to help with Brown Designs, the Dorset Growth production, administration and Hub team provided support PROGRESS UPDATE: through Regional Growth Grant “The Dorset LEP is very proud of the Dorset marketing funding. Lou wanted to create Lou Brown Designs has continued Growth Hub, which is considered a national two part time jobs and a potential to increase sales especially exemplar and an initiative of the LEP that is • Cash flow injection to help with full time position within the next 12 through the notonthehighstreet. essential to driving economic growth and future developments of Lou months. The Dorset Growth Hub prosperity in Dorset, whilst providing expert Brown Designs com partnership, which has team granted £10,000 on a 3:1 advice and support for local entrepreneurs proved to be a lucrative forum DLEP Chairman Gordon Page with fellow LEP Board match funding basis to support and businesses.” providing customers from all members during Lord Heseltine (pictured in the centre) growth and job creation. visit to Dorset Growth Hub (Gordon Page, Dorset LEP Chairman) across the UK and Europe. 18 19 EUROPEAN FUNDING INWARD INVESTMENT

Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015 DORSET LEP FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT AND EU FUNDING ACTIVITY AND SECTOR PROMOTION STATISTICS The Dorset LEP Inward Investment Team works very closely with UK WHAT IS ESIF? Trade & Investment (UKTI) to provide EUROPEAN sector or bespoke propositions for new investment enquiries. They also STRUCTURAL AND provide Account Management of existing Foreign Direct Investors (FDI) INVESTMENT FUND who are seeking to make further (ESIF) IS A COMBINED investment in Dorset. SILICON SOUTH - EUROPEAN FUND CREATIVE SECTOR THAT COMPRISES OF SECTORS The Team works to both GROWTH AND THE THREE MAIN STRANDS: ESF promote and strengthen FARNBOROUGH Dorset’s leading sectors in FDI DIGITAL ECONOMY in which 12 successes were INTERNATIONAL Silicon South is both Dorset’s and achieved in the year 2014/15 AIR SHOW 2014 the South’s creative industries ERDF • Aerospace champion. Tasked with building The team were involved in setting a strong brand for the region to • Advanced Engineering up the joint sponsorship of the drive economic growth through & Manufacturing which West of England Aerospace the creative and digital sectors, EAFRD includes the defence and stand in the UK Pavilion with it has raised the region’s profile marine industry Invest in Bristol & Bath and nationally and internationally Heart of the South West LEP. • Creative Industries among organisations such as This gave Dorset LEP its first ever UKTI, InnovateUK and Creative • Financial Services presence at the show and the England. Below are three core ESIF EVENTS team were able to meet with activities that Silicon South help HM Government Ministers, sector the LEP to facilitate: Several ESIF events have been held across the CROSS LEP specialists and exhibiting Dorset county to further inform the allocation of EU aerospace companies. funding streams. INWARD INVESTMENT COLLABORATION Handled 5 inward investment In October 2014 DLEP held a number of • The team works with several enquiries domestically and consultation events around Dorset to gain other LEPs in supporting FDI internationally, with propositions feedback that would later inform priorities in various other sectors too: sent to clients. and further enhance the Dorset ESIF Strategy ERDF – £20m Business Growth through • Aerospace – Invest in Bristol for the Dorset ESIF Committee. DIGITAL ECONOMY innovation and support; & Bath (West of England Held events over the past year To find out more about ESIF visit the Gov .UK website here: SME competitiveness LEP) and Heart of the South https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/european-funds and reducing the West LEP to promote the Digital Economy carbon footprint of Dorset and the work of Silicon South, • Defence – Solent LEP including funding events to WHAT DOES THIS with reference to the inform local businesses of the BIS Defence Growth range of funding opportunities MEAN FOR DORSET? Partnership available locally, nationally and ESF – £20m from the EU. Silicon South also Dorset has been allocated around £43m of • Marine - Solent LEP, Heart Promoting employment, sponsored the BIMA Digital Day ESIF. This funding will respond to priorities that of the South West LEP and inclusion and investing in in Bournemouth promoting digital have been identified in the Dorset Strategic Cornwall and Isles of education, skills and life careers to young people. Economic Plan and the Dorset ESIF Strategy long learning EAFRD – £3m Scilly LEP Aimed at stimulating, 2014 – 2020. The funding allocated to each • Financial Services – Solent START-UP SUPPORT programme, excluding match funding that supporting and growing LEP and Enterprise M3 LEP Funded and facilitated a Digital will be leveraged as a result of the European Dorset’s rural economy Accelerator Programme in Funding, is demonstrated here: • Regional expansion of FDI - Swindon and Wiltshire LEP conjunction with Creative England that supported eight businesses through the process. 20 21 PUBLICITY AND ENGAGEMENT UPCOMING ACTIVITY

Dorset LEP Annual Report 2014 - 2015 OUR WHAT’S PUBLIC NEXT FOR PRESENCE DORSET? Our Twitter engagement A LOOK is ever growing with over 700 new followers since June 2014, bringing AHEAD the total to nearly 2,000, with our content shared by local, regional and national users. We also use TO 2016 this platform to share our monthly e-newsletters to further engage our stakeholders and drive traffic to our website.

Our LinkedIn presence is also growing, with regular and relevant engaging content for the Dorset business community to absorb. It also serves as a great platform for the LEP to showcase to all its stakeholders its e-newsletter and other communication material. GROWTH DEAL PROJECTS This annual report covers the period to March 2015. We are looking forward to next year being able to report on the progress of the first Dorset Growth Deal projects. We anticipate that any further bidding processes will be competitive and we will be preparing for any announcements from the new government about future investment opportunities for Dorset in the coming years. Other areas of publicity and engagement include our increased presence EMERGING SUCCESS STORIES within the local press, online and There are significant rural funding opportunities emerging for Dorset that will benefit rural businesses and other media outlets in the last communities and be directly aligned to the Dorset LEP’s priorities. Growing Places loan funding has already year. The launch of our new logo been allocated to help Honeybuns Ltd, a bakery based in Holwell, which has experienced rapid growth and a new website, as part of the in recent years. The Growing Places loan is towards the cost of a new bakery, which would facilitate the overall rebranding of the Dorset continued expansion of the business into more suitable premises and double their work force. LEP, will further encourage wider engagement with our activities. The MORE GOOD NEWS TO FOLLOW LEP continue to support, promote, There will be lots of good new stories, case studies and Dorset LEP progress updates available on our new attend and sponsor hundreds of website, on Twitter and in our monthly newsletters. So keep your eyes peeled! events throughout Dorset. To sign up to the newsletter and ensure you are up to date with our latest news, go to our website at www.dorsetlep.co.uk WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OUR PARTNER ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION IN CARRYING OUT OUR WORK.

22 23 CONTACT THE DORSET LEP For more information visit our website at www.dorsetlep.co.uk

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