Presentation given by Dr Martin Dare-Edwards to the B4 Business Briefing, held at Canvas Abingdon on 17th May 2012

1. Status and Challenges
for LEPs - 18 months on
17th May 2012
Dr Martin Dare-Edwards
Start-Up Chairman
Oxon-LEP

2. Status and Challenges for LEPs -
18 months on
 LEPs – Modus Operandi
 Oxfordshire LEP – Priority Themes
 Oxfordshire LEP Spatial Priorities
 Top Challenges for LEPs beyond Start-Up

3. LEPs – Modus Operandi
 LEPs were created to seize opportunities for Local Prioritisation
& Leadership in pursuit of Enhanced Economic Growth
 The Oxfordshire LEP‟s Mission was established as:
– „The Oxfordshire LEP exists to help create more high-
value-adding, sustainable jobs in Oxfordshire‟
 LEPs‟ activities will focus on identifying and working to remove
barriers to economic growth
 With negligible operational funding, limited “in-kind” and
voluntary resourcing, sharp prioritisation is necessary towards
maximum value…(cf. Row / Steer / Cheer approach)

4. Oxfordshire LEP – Priority Themes
 Supporting Inward Investment
– Marketing of the “Invest in Oxfordshire” offering (also via UKTI)
– Oxfordshire Science Vale Enterprise Zone (OSVEZ)
– Identifying and Promoting “Clusters of Excellence” and
Specialised Supply Chains in High Growth Sectors
– Supporting Existing Businesses to Innovate and Grow
(linkage to “Business Coaching For Growth” programme)
– Access to Finance and Export Support
 Identifying and Securing Investment for Top Priority
Enabling Infrastructure Projects
– Also using GPF (~£9M) and “TIF2” Pump-priming Funds
 Addressing Skills Mismatches
– A “Steering” activity through the (new) Oxfordshire Skills Board

5. Oxfordshire LEP – Spatial Priorities
 Oxfordshire Science Vale Enterprise Zone (OSVEZ)
– Local Operational Partner - SVUK Partnership Board
– National & International excellence for Science & Technological
Innovation
 Bicester
– Local Operational Partner – Bicester Vision
– Drive to establish coherent Housing and Employment-based
Development, inclusive of the Eco-exemplar
 Oxford City
– Local Operational Partner – Oxford Strategic Partnership
– Continue to support inward investment as world-class centre of
education, research and innovation…
… including particularly in BioPharma & Medical Technology

6. Top Challenges for LEPs beyond Start-Up
 Sustaining passion for holistic benefits to the LEP area
 Turning aspirations & plans into delivery programmes
 Securing effective collaborative partnerships with
the competing local authorities (for Oxon = county &
districts), particularly for Infrastructure Development
 Making tough decisions on allocation of limited
capital investment funding (with prompt returns!)
(GPF, retained EZ business rates and other “local funding”)

7. Backup Slides

8. Why Clusters?
 Good is not Good enough!
 No focus means invisibility!
 Clustering - proven basis to lead economic growth
 Specialised Supply Chains, including Specialist
Service Providers
 Fermentation of innovation (competitive &
collaborative) – global hotspots!
 “Catapults” are examples for coordination
 UKTI Inward Investment Support
 UKTI Export Support (especially for SME‟s)

9. Oxfordshire‟s „Premier League‟ Clusters
 Satellite Applications
Earth-Observation Satellites: Upstream Technologies, Control &
Data Acquisition, Data Exploitation
 Cryogenic Technology
“Coolest” parts of Oxfordshire’s (Globally) Brightest & Hottest!
Magnetic Resonance Imaging & Supply Chain
 Automotive Manufacturing & Motorsport Technology
ICE Vehicles, Low Carbon Mobility, Leading-edge Materials,
Engineering & Controls Innovations
 BioPharma and Medical Technology
Drug Discovery & Clinical Development (“Bench-to-Bedside”)

10. Enterprise Zone bid
Leveraging an underutilised asset
 Existing centre of excellence
– World class facilities, research and reputation
 Need to compete on a world stage
– Raise the profile of Science Vale
 92 ha ready from day 1
– Harwell Oxford 64ha + Milton Park 28ha
 Value for money
– Limited requirement of investment in infrastructure
 Existing Management
– Commercially managed parks
– Science Vale Board

11. Harwell Oxford – 64ha

12. Milton Park – 28ha