Agenda item

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment and the Director of LLEP submit a report to update the Scrutiny Commission on the work of the Business and Skills Partnership for Leicester and Leicestershire.

The Chair proposed an agenda variance, bringing forward the item on the Update on Leicester and Leicestershire Business Skills Partnership.  The Commission agreed.

The Director of Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) gave an overview of the report. Key points to note were as follows:

• Funding had been withdrawn for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in the spring budget of 2023, with a termination of funds in April 2024. LEP functions transferred to upper tier local authorities, leading to the creation of LLEP.
• A business board was formed with two key purposes: to represent local businesses in regional decision making, and to work with the local leaders to create a comprehensive strategy. The board included local business representatives and local educational establishments.
• The City Mayor and interim leader held regular meetings with the Chair of the business board.
• The 2 enterprise zones were over 4 sites. The Post LEP arrangements were currently under discussion with City, County and District Councils.
• Enterprise zone implementation groups had been created.
• Skills and Apprenticeships were a key priority in enhancing economic growth.
• Partnership work was vital in securing a robust pipeline, the Employment Hub and FE colleges were working on a number of collaborative endeavours.
• The Career Hub engaged with education providers and employers, to provide help to young people, focussing particularly on the disadvantaged.
• There was a range of projects to support disadvantaged young people, including Unbox Your Future and We discover, the latter was a SEND research project.
• The Leicester and Leicestershire Careers hub had received additional funding to support pilots and the Hub had become England’s first Pilot Logistics Beacon Hub.
• The Business Gateway Growth Hub supported local businesses through various initiatives, including raising awareness of fraud. Future plans included workshops and one-to-one support.
• The East Midlands Create Growth Programme supported creative businesses and was expected to run until March 2025, but this could be extended to March 2026.
• A green paper had been released by the government in October 2024 on the new Industrial strategy. This was a 10-year plan to provide certainty and stability to businesses looking to invest in high growth sectors. In November, the Leicester Leicestershire Business Skills Partnership (LLBSP) hosted an interactive consultation on the Green Paper with local business leaders, education providers, and key stakeholders to share their insights and priorities.
• A government response had been received on timelines and next steps, this could come back to scrutiny.

In response to questions from the committee, it was noted that:

• The budget of the LLBSP varied. There was previous core funding to LEPS and a sum of money had been provided to manage the transition. A plan was in place to manage this fund until the end of 2026. It was hoped that positive government announcements would come imminently.
• In terms of staffing, some roles had changed. The strategy was to move decision making back to local government.
• VAL represented the voluntary sector.
• There was an urban / rural challenge and representation across the patches was needed.
• Metrics of success were becoming clearer. A business delivery plan would come. By the end of April, a cohesive plan would be published.
• Regarding business engagement, it was hard to engage with all of the necessary groups, but the board should help to improve on this.
• Intelligence could be gained by going out to the businesses and working collaboratively.
• To ensure the skills relevance of the Apprenticeships and T levels, consultations had taken place with local businesses to look at what skills would be needed over the next 5 years. Educational establishments had also been consulted.
• Changes to the apprenticeship LEVI were coming through which were hoped to bring positive changes.
• It was felt that the Government passion to engage with businesses would allow for a model to be created going through to 2028.
• A process was beginning to understand adult skills devolution and more details could come to scrutiny on this.
• A strategy would be formed to better support small business via the Business Hub.
• The Chair of the Business Board was a volunteer so was not in receipt of a wage for this role.
• Money in reserves could be clarified and was currently at around £1.8m.
• Net Zero was a key priority for the LEP. The government industrial strategy would feed in and existing measures would be maintained and developed.

AGREED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    A response would be given with clarity on timelines from the government.

3)    Consideration would be given to the rural and urban makeup of the board and an update provided.