Member Article

Hertfordshire LEP promotes region at House of Commons

Mark Prisk MP; John Gourd, Chair of Hertfordshire LEP; and Mike Penning MP

The Hertfordshire LEP has met with local businesses at the House of Commons to promote its priorities for the coming year.

Hosted by Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, the event gave key stakeholders a taste of the LEP’s goals.

Guest speaker Mark Prisk, Business Minister, talked about the Government’s plans for growth and the crucial role that LEPs across the country will play.

He said: “Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership can play a really important part in driving economic growth in the local area.

“The launch of their plan for growth shows there is plenty of appetite for the LEP to strengthen the county’s position as a prosperous area for business.

“I am confident that the steps we are taking and the plans of LEPs like Hertfordshire, who are best placed to identify solutions to local challenges, will secure a return to long-term sustainable growth.”

John Gourd, of Johnson Matthey PLC and Chair of the Hertfordshire LEP, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the LEP to engage with key stakeholders and to set out its vision for Hertfordshire.

“Local businesses have the opportunity to collaborate on Hertfordshire’s future and lend their support. We are keen to work with others to maintain and grow the economic prosperity of our county.

“This event also gave us the chance to showcase Hertfordshire as an excellent location for business.

“With an economy of £25bn - one of the strongest in the UK outside London - fantastic transport links and a highly-skilled workforce, Hertfordshire is the place for smart businesses and we will be capitalising on our natural advantages to attract more inward investment to the area.”

Mike Penning added: “I was delighted to host this event, particularly as I am an MP for Hertfordshire.

“Hertfordshire is home to a great many innovative and internationally renowned businesses, both large and small and it was great to see so many of them at this event showing their enthusiasm for the work of the LEP.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .