Member Article

Tees Valley LEP sets out priorities for 2013

Plans for economic development in the next year have been set out by the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in Tees Valley to encourage construction and improve infrastructure in the region.

Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU) said it hopes to bring in further investment by raising awareness around business incentives, and by advancing its bid for a Tees Valley City Deal.

Construction will begin on a project to build a new train station at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, while the LEP said it will use the Growing Places Fund to boost infrastructure projects.

TVU said further engagement with employers in the region will be a priority, and it was indicated that better support would be on offer to Tees Valley firms along with help to kick start apprenticeship schemes.

The LEP pledged to seek out funding for wind farm initiatives, and also said it would investigate ways to collaborate with other organisations to solve housing and regeneration issues in Tees Valley.

TVU’s managing director, Stephen Catchpole, commented: “In 2013 we will continue to engage with potential investors, key stakeholders and those at the heart of Government to update them on our progress and also make sure that as many opportunities as possible are created within the Tees Valley area.

“Developing essential building blocks such as success across Regional Growth Fund, the popularity of the Tees Valley Enterprise Zone and significant achievement in securing Government funding enables us to look forward to the coming months with optimism as our plans gather even more pace.

“We will start this year as we finished the last - dedicated and committed to delivering our partnership Business Plan. It will be a year of challenges but equally one of opportunity and we will continue to strive to make a real and positive difference to the Tees Valley economy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .