Latest News

Devon communities expected to receive extra government support

The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed today’s government announcement that several areas in Devon have been recommended for Assisted Area Status (AAS).

Assisted Area Status allows for higher levels of EU funding and more government assistance to support businesses in disadvantaged economies.   A total of 9,658 businesses in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay could be set to benefit from this announcement.

The areas recommended for Assisted Area Status include Newton Abbot, Ivybridge, Totnes, Ham ward in Plymouth, several wards in Torbay and Torridge (including Bideford, Torrington and Appledore) and much of North Devon including large parts of Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.

The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, which has been been campaigning for several months to secure Assisted Area Status for these areas, warmly welcomed the announcement.

Chief Executive, Chris Garcia, said: “This announcement is great news for our area.   Until now, Devon has received much lower amounts of regional aid government assistance than comparable areas in the UK and we are delighted that the Government has agreed to support all our recommendations.

“Inclusion in the Assisted Area Status map has huge benefits for the areas concerned.   It permits the granting of addition financial support to both small businesses and large enterprises, enabling them, and the communities they support, to grow and become more prosperous.”

The map is subject to European Commission approval, which is expected by the end of May 2014.

For more information on Assisted Area Status visit https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/assisted-areas-map-2014-to-2020-stage-2

Archives
OUR BOARD

Comprised of business leaders from across our key sectors, the LEP Board oversees the programme of infrastructure, business support and skills projects being delivered by 2025.

Find out more about our board >

LEP board meetings & documents >

Newsletter Sign-up






    Complete the short form and we will add you to our mailing list.

    We use MailChimp as our marketing automation platform. By clicking below to submit this form, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be transferred to MailChimp in the USA for processing in accordance with their Privacy Policy and Terms.

    Business engagement is really important to us. We handle and process all personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulations. For further information please refer to our Privacy Policy.

    Send us a message


      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.