THERESA May’s Government has received a thumbs up from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) following the publication of its industrial strategy green paper.
The organisation, which champions growth in Kent and surrounding counties, praised it for recognising the need to support business and create the right conditions for growth across the area.
As the largest LEP in the country, covering a population of in excess of four million and a 344,500-strong business community, SELEP will play an integral part in Government’s plans to improve the country’s economic performance.
Among the objectives of the new industrial strategy are; investing in science, research and innovation, developing skills, upgrading infrastructure and improving procurement.
Other objectives include encouraging trade, inward investment and ‘cultivating world-leading sectors’.
Christian Brodie, Chairman of SELEP, said: “Developing an economy based upon innovation, infrastructure and skills is a vision we share with the Government, and one we will work closely with the relevant departments and our partners to deliver.
“While we recognise the urgent need to improve productivity across the whole of the country we continue to argue the case that in these time of uncertainty, the Government must back the South East as a proven winner.
“This means investing in our area, where our communities share many of the issues facing the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine.”
