The document discusses the status and challenges faced by Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), particularly the Oxfordshire LEP, focusing on its mission to create sustainable jobs and address barriers to economic growth. It highlights key priority themes such as supporting inward investment, addressing skills mismatches, and securing infrastructure investments, alongside challenges related to collaboration and resource allocation. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of specialized clusters for driving economic growth and innovation.

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