CHESHIRE’S economic prospects are rosy says the man who helped set up a partnership aimed at promoting entrepreneurialism.
Aidan Manley played a pivotal role in establishing Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) following a restructure by the Tory-Lib Dem government.
The private sector-led LEP is one of four in the region designed to replace Labour’s Northwest Regional Development Agency and is due to go live in April.
The LEPs will be charged with supporting business and local authorities to grow the private sector, tackle barriers to growth and develop strategies to increase job creation.
Mr Manley is managing director of Cheshire & Warrington Enterprise Commission which successfully bid to set up the LEP.
He said: “Nobody is immune from what is happening at a national and international level but I really believe in Cheshire and Warrington we have some great businesses and I believe that through the LEP we can build the right foundations for the future and overall I’m confident that we can get the economy working to create jobs and wealth.”
Cheshire and Warrington is fortunate to have a high representation of sectors forecast to perform well including professional services, bio-life sciences and environment and energy production.
LEP board members include senior figures from private and public sectors such as Graham Ramsbottom, MD of Grosvenor Estates, pop guru Pete Waterman and Cllr Mike Jones, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council. Also included are Tim Wheeler, vice chancellor of Chester University, and Sara Mogel, principal of West Cheshire College.
The LEP will also champion bids to the £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund aimed at promoting regeneration.
