On Friday 21 October 2016 the South West business community, Local Enterprise Partnerships, local leaders, Members of Parliament and academic institutions came together at the University of Exeter for the South West Growth Summit hosted by Pennon.

Following over £30m of Government funding through Enterprise Zones, the focus was on how the South West can secure further investment, particularly in vital infrastructure connecting the region and increasing skills to boost productivity and earnings. The Summit included two high profile panel discussions and a keynote speech from Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid. Panel discussions were chaired by the Editor of the Western Morning News, Bill Martin, and featured local leaders, MPs, Local Enterprise Partnerships, academics and business leaders.

One outcome of the Summit was the creation of a South West Growth Charter, a positive, forward-looking vision for the region’s economic future. It sets out the region’s ideas for making the most of the opportunities available as the UK leaves the European Union and was presented to Government ahead of the Autumn Statement.

NEW: for information on the 2017 South West Growth Summit please visit this page.

SOUTH WEST GROWTH CHARTER

A NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR THE SOUTH WEST

OUR COMMITMENTS:

TO COLLABORATE FOR GROWTH

We will drive greater collaboration between business, public sector partners and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) focused on achieving growth for the South West.

TO INVEST IN A SELF-SUSTAINING SOUTH WEST

We will invest in building regional self-sufficiency, seeking to decrease reliance on grant aid and increase innovative funding solutions.

TO INVEST IN INNOVATION, INDUSTRY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

We will invest in innovation, with collaborative new industrial clusters around aerospace, marine, defence, energy, engineering and digital technology. We will support their infrastructure requirements for growth.

TO INVEST IN PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE AND RETAIN TALENT WITHIN OUR REGION

We will invest in a stronger partnership between education, business, public sector partners and LEPs focused on boosting productivity, attracting high-quality direct investment and nurturing high-value businesses to retain talent in the South West.

TO INVEST IN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND SHARE THE BENEFITS OF GROWTH

We will drive increased investment in our environment, infrastructure, in places and in sharing the benefits of growth across our region.

OUR ASKS:

A NEW GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOUTH WEST

A firm focus on South West Growth in the Government's Industrial Strategy and a funding roadmap so the South West can move from funding reliance to more innovative funding solutions.

INVESTMENT IN DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY: HIGH-SPEED BUSINESS

Ultra-Fast South West, a new partnership with the private sector to deliver ultra-fast South West 5G mobile, fibre and wireless broadband through to 90% of the population by 2030.

INVESTMENT IN ENERGY CONNECTIVITY: ‘SWITCHING ON’ TO OPPORTUNITY

Addressing transmission and distribution restrictions that restrain regional growth, to be completed by 2025. A renewed focus from Ofgem, National Grid and Western Power Distribution.

INVESTMENT IN TRANSPORT CONNECTIVITY: GETTING BUSINESS MOVING

Backing the Peninsula Rail Taskforce’s long-term plan for rail improvements to be outlined in the report to be published later this year.
Re-affirming commitments to road improvement projects in the pipeline (A303,A30,A38,A358).