The document proposes establishing a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for the London Thames Gateway region to promote economic growth. It summarizes the background and rationale for this proposal. Specifically, it notes that as Regional Development Agencies are wound down, LEPs are being created to lead local economic development. The proposed LEP would represent the London Thames Gateway sub-region and work closely with related partnerships in Kent, Essex, and the wider Thames Gateway region to attract investment and jobs. It outlines the partnership's purpose and potential activities to connect people to jobs, improve infrastructure, and strengthen business growth in key sectors.

1. A LEP FOR THE LONDON THAMES GATEWAY? Ros Dunn, Chief Executive, TGLP John Williams, Chief Executive, Gateway to London

2. Where are we and how did we get here? Our journey in response to a changing landscape Localism; as RDAs are wound up, the Government wants to see creation of Local Enterprise Partnerships within recognised functional economic areas London position initially unclear, but strong support from the outset for the idea of using LEPs to lead localised delivery of the Thames Gateway We didn’t wait, and decided to develop proposals for a LEP for the London Thames Gateway as part of this in the light of this support

3. More on the proposal later, but Strong support for our ideas from members of TGLP and GtL; businesses, boroughs and HEIs New partners attracted; new businesses, additional support from a Thames Gateway council in Essex, and the 16 FE colleges in the London Thames Gateway, making this a genuinely cross regional proposal Close collaboration with our partner organisations in Kent and Essex, including on the implementation of the new Thames Gateway Strategic Group, and with other London sub regions

4. Representative business organisations Federation of Small Businesses East London Business Alliance South East London Chamber of Commerce East London Small Business Centre Supporting businesses BT Group Canary Wharf Group J&H Sales Avanta City Airport Westfield HSBC Kingston Smith AEG Siemens Borough partners LB Barking & Dagenham LB Bexley LB Greenwich LB Havering LB Lewisham LB Newham LB Tower Hamlets LB Redbridge LB Waltham Forest LB Hackney Dartford Borough Council Thurrock Unitary Authority Higher Education partners University of East London Goldsmiths Ravensbourne London Metropolitan University Trinity Laban Queen Mary University of Greenwich Further Education partners Hackney Community College Newham College of FE Waltham Forest College B6 Sixth Form College NewVic Sixth Form College Leyton Sixth Form College Tower Hamlets College Redbridge College Barking and Dagenham College Havering College Havering Sixth Form College Lewisham College Greenwich Community College Bexley College Christ the King Sixth Form College Sir George Moneaux Sixth Form College

5. Clarity on the London situation emerging post SR10 The Mayor has decided to propose a single London Enterprise Partnership covering whole of the London region This is seen as a potential vehicle for double devolution from government to Mayor and then on to Boroughs The London Enterprise Partnership will be designed to support effective delivery of sub-regional and local ambitions in context of London Plan and Economic Development Strategy If government agrees, London boroughs can be included in both the London Enterprise Partnership and Partnerships including authorities bordering London (for example, LB Croydon is already in the successful Coast to Capital LEP)

6. London Thames Gateway: a view from the sub-region The LTG sub-region is still critical to driving long term economic growth looking West and East: a genuinely “pivotal place” that needs to link strongly to the rest of London and the rest of the Gateway This is reflected in the proposal, which includes local authorities outside London (Thurrock in Essex and Dartford in Kent) and London boroughs with Gateway and non Gateway areas Still some uncertainty: will we be a free standing LEP or a sub regional part of the London Enterprise Partnership architecture? Our private and public sector partners are clear: we want whatever will make things happen in our sub-region and the wider Gateway Strong support for using this opportunity to organise the London Thames Gateway into a suitable streamlined partnership structure to: deliver our sub-regional priorities support the economic growth aspirations of the London-wide LEP contribute to the delivery aims of the wider Thames Gateway (Kent ,Essex and E Sussex LEP)

7. On to our proposal; a new Partnership for the London Thames Gateway boosting our efforts to invest in private sector jobs growth Purpose (worked out in discussion with partners) would be….. Working within the context of Mayoral strategies,the London wide Partnership arrangements and the government’s aspirations for the delivery of the Thames Gateway, to influence the strategic direction for rapid private sector growth in London Thames Gateway and beyond and to attract investment to deliver this growth within the sub-region. Strong focus on maximising investment, including bidding to the Regional Growth Fund in support of places with high dependency on public sector employment With objectives around working with the London Enterprise Partnership to : promote inward investment support enterprise, innovation and business support improve skills development and employment opportunities

8. HOW? THROUGH BEING PART OF CO-ORDINATED ACTION TO STRENGTHEN THE DETERMINANTS OF PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS GROWTH WORKING IN SUPPORTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH REGIONAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER PLACE PEOPLE BUSINESS PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS

9. WHAT DOES BUSINESS NEED? Agglomeration Benefits Connectivity (Skilled) Labour Regulation & Fiscal Environment Supply Chain Suitable Business Space BUSINESS

10. CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NEW JOBS Provide decent housing & family opportunity Assist with job readiness Provide job opportunities Opportunities to improve skills PEOPLE

11. IMPROVING THE THAMES GATEWAY AS A PLACE OF QUALITY Improving Public Realm Investing in Infrastructure Focus on Opportunity Areas (Space) PLACE

12. What could this mean in practice? With strong local leadership, the Partnership could…. Lead strategic dialogue between private sector and public/voluntary agencies in the sub region to inform delivery. Simplify the delivery architecture, helping to cut down the Thames Gateway alphabet soup and cut costs where possible Maximise flexibility in design and localised delivery of solutions to meet the distinct challenges to growing the private sector in the LTG Present local priorities at sub-regional level and in turn, advocate sub-regional needs to national government Represent London in the new Thames Gateway Strategic Group with sub regional partners from Kent and Essex

13. What could this mean in practice? Specific examples could be……. Forging links with the Mayor’s new pan London inward investment agency and strengthen links with UKTI to drive forward and co-ordinate efforts and funding towards the enormous investment opportunity in the LTG Providing a co-ordinated offer of enterprise support programmes using expertise from FE, HEIs and business networks. Helping to deliver bespoke business support services to LTG’s recognised growth sectors (e.g. creative industries including digital media, low carbon/clean tech industries/sustainable construction technologies, ports, logistics and distribution, business and financial services) Forging an effective working relationship with the DWP Work Programme Prime Contractors working in the area

14. STRUCTURE & DELIVERY MODEL SUPPORT TEAM/SECRETARIAT C O – O R D I N A T E D S U P P O R T S E R V I C E S A C C E L E R A T E D D E V E L O P M E N T Z O N E S LONDON THAMES GATEWAY INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT BOARD SKILLS & ENTERPRISE HUB (e.g. green economy) SKILLS & ENTERPRISE HUB (e.g. creative industries) SKILLS & ENTERPRISE HUB (Other sectors)

15. To sum up We have a clear view of what we want to do to support the delivery of rapid private sector growth in the Thames Gateway in London and our neighbouring sub regions , and will work to deliver new arrangements We are aiming for our proposals to be recognised as a separate LEP which will support and complement the work of the London Enterprise Partnership We will work across regional boundaries within the context of the Mayoral strategies and London wide arrangements, and also in support of the government’s aspirations for the Thames Gateway. We’re ready to go !