Dorset LEP: your local Enterprise Partnership, driving our region's economic development

As a partnership, we work with businesses, local government, education institutes and others to drive economic growth, attract funding and investment, increase productivity and co-develop local strategies for Dorset.

Dorset Local Industrial Strategy Logo

BUSINESS SUPPORT

We’re here to help businesses across Dorset find the right advice, support and funding to enable them to grow and prosper. 

Business Growth Programmes

Business Growth Resources

Commercial Property Database

People walking by the beach

INVESTING IN SKILLS

Talented, Skilled & Competent. Our vision is for a high-skilled workforce, meeting the needs of Dorset’s growing economy and priority sectors. We want our working-age to become better skilled and more productive so that our future economic growth is driven by greater worker productivity rather than relying on workforce growth. 

Dorset Careers Hub

Labour Market Information

Lansdowne Business District

PROJECTS

We have secured £247.7 million for Dorset through competitive bids for Central Government and European funding. Projects benefiting from this investment bring long-term economic growth to the region and support the continued development of Dorset as a prosperous and attractive place to live and work.

Local Growth Fund projects

Getting Building Fund projects

Growing Places Fund projects

STRATEGY

Our modern industrial vision is to double Dorset’s productivity and economic output to £35.6 billion over the next twenty years, generating 80,000 jobs, building around 78,000 new homes, and creating a local economy that is sustainable, innovative and inclusive.

The Dorset Living Better Investment Prospectus, published in March 2021, sets out an investment roadmap to build on four of Dorset's strengths – Living, Natural, Smart and Wellbeing. We know our region can be at the forefront of tackling some of humanity’s biggest challenges, pioneering new approaches to healthy ageing, food production and climate change. This can be achieved while protecting and enhancing our world-class environment, so we remain a premier destination to live, work, visit and learn. Find out more about the Dorset Living Better Investment Prospectus.

£35.6

Billion GVA

80000

New jobs

78000

New homes