LEPs:maximising the potential

for VCS engagement

Rachel Quinn, One East Midlands

The 39 LEPs

What have they been doing?• Stimulating Private-Sector led growth• Job creation

How? • Growing Places Fund – delivering local infrastructure

priorities• Regional Growth Fund – drawing private sector

leverage for job creation• Enterprise Zones – growth stimulation via simplified

planning and business tax breaks• City Deals – Removing barriers to growth

Lord Heseltine’s Review• ‘No Stone Unturned’ published October 2012• Government response March 2013 – 81 out of 89

recommendations accepted, 5 rejected, 3 in SR• Increasing Whitehall asks of / offers to LEPs - and

increasing focus on their performance• Single Local Growth Fund from 2015• LEPs to develop multi year strategic plans• Funding to be allocated though Local Growth Deals• LEPs to take greater role in EU funding distribution• Support LEP capacity

European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 – LEP roles

Lead role for LEPs – notional 7 year allocations• Develop strategy, working with wide range of partners• Select projects (commissioning, bidding and co-financing)• Identify match funding• Spend allocation (on time and in line with EU regulations)• Ensure outcomes delivered • Monitor delivery against strategy and programme priorities• Not responsible for administering the funds (remains with

Managing Authorities)

What have we got to offer??

Structural:• Employs 2.7% workforce• Spends £2.1bn in NW

economy• Holds £3.9bn in assets• Access to volunteers• High level and diverse skill

base• Geographical reach – for

delivery, intelligence and to test effectiveness of interventions

• Geographical flexibility - from national to local

• Established networks and communication systems

Strategic:• Access to match funding –

cash, assets, volunteers• Existing Co-financer working

relationships (e.g. SFA, NOMS, DWP)

• Existing relationships with Managing Authorities

• Reach, data and intelligence• Assessment of social inclusion,

poverty and disadvantage• Delivering cross-cutting

themes: Planning for Equality & Diversity and Sustainable Development outcomes

What else have we got to offer??

• Operational:• Delivery specialisms e.g. digital

inclusion, skills & employability, micro & social enterprise growth, young people, health & wellbeing and environmental sustainability

• Focus on disadvantage• Rural and urban coverage• Scalability• Use of and access to social

investment products and models• Proven technical expertise of:

– community led local development,

– community grants, – social inclusion

• Experiential:• ESF, ERDF and EAFRD experience

(planning, management and delivery)

• Scrutiny of EU programmes• Co-production• Complex funding packages• Successful anti- poverty and

inclusion work• Stimulating Community Led Local

Development (e.g. LEADER)• Experience of the development of

new ideas, products and services to meet social need (social innovation)

• Working in partnerships and consortia

Challenges and Opportunities for Civil Society

• Making the case for engagement• BLF co-financing offer• Social Inclusion• Community Led Local Development (CLLD)• Equality & Diversity• Social Innovation• Social Investment / Social Enterprise• Community grants• ‘Freedoms and Flexibilities’• Match funding (volunteer time??)

Challenges for LIOs

• Local leadership and capacity building• Consortia building• Engaging small groups• Intelligence and Data• Funding advice• Demonstrating Economic Impact• Representation and accountability

Your turn……

• What activities have been shown to deliver social inclusion outcomes in the NW?

• What are the tangible economic outcomes derived from this approach?– Could this be measured / tracked?

• Is this activity scalable – to cover whole LEP area or across multple LEPs?– If so how?

If we have more time……

• How could the VCS support the LEP(s) to achieve inclusivity in the delivery of core LEP objectives?– SME growth and competitiveness– Innovation, Research & Development– Identifying and delivering against skills priorities– Job creation and reducing economic inactivity

Quality of the relationship• Governance

– Board– Sub groups or advisory groups

• Engagement– Involvement in consultation – active input– Sector communication mechanism in place

• Strategy– Role of CS clearly identified– Strategy for Social Inclusion– Take up of available ‘social’ options

More Information and resources are on the Reach & Impact web page:

www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/reachandimpact

or Regional Voices atwww.regionalvoices.org

or atwww.europeanfundingnetwork.eu