Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has once again proven how effective collaborative working can be in delivering value for the region, having successfully delivered an £11.8 million capital investment programme.
Nine “shovel-ready” projects across the region have been made possible by Dorset LEP’s investment of the government’s Getting Building Fund, launched in 2020 as an accelerated funding scheme to aid economic recovery in the face of the pandemic.
At the height of the pandemic, Dorset’s economy was severely impacted, exposing the fragility that this type of crisis can present to business resilience and stability. Through the Getting Building Fund, Dorset LEP has enabled oppo
rtunities in enterprise, healthcare, skills and digital connectivity to provide solutions across Dorset and future proof its economic resilience.
Cecilia Bufton, Dorset LEP’s Chair said: “The ambition and drive of our exceptional team and dedicated delivery partners have ensured timely completion of some great projects which will benefit businesses and the people of Dorset for years to come. Driving forward these COVID-19 recovery projects during the pandemic is a significant achievement, especially against a backdrop of Brexit, national restrictions and supply chain challenges.”
Despite these challenges, all nine projects – which to date have collectively secured an additional £6 million in match-funding- progressed at incredible pace, already delivering over 4,700 broadband connections, 287 jobs (created/safeguarded) and assisting over 8,400 learners and 180 businesses/institutions.
As a recovery and resilience capital investment programme, projects securing Getting Building Funding were required to demonstrate long-term economic potential, improvements to research and development facilities able to drive up business productivity, improvements to digital connectivity particularly in more isolated areas and a focus on the sustainability and green agenda.
Investments by Dorset LEP’s allocation of the Getting Building Fund include essential new facilities at the Port of Poole, a University Centre and Rural Business Hub at Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester, roll out of full-fibre broadband in rural communities and innovations in healthcare.
ENDURANCE IN ENTERPRISE
The Port of Poole is a critically important asset for Dorset, with Brexit highlighting the need to ensure the port’s commercial viability. Through the Getting Building Fund, a Public Trade Office and has been established and thanks to the Getting Building Fund, and Port Infrastructure Fund, a new port operational facility and Border Control Post have been created.
The Public Trade Office is fully operational and ensures the efficient and effective processing of freight between the European Union and the port, while the new Border Control Post building houses over 40 port staff, enabling Border Force to undertake its role effectively and efficiently, safeguarding the existing port’s business under new customs legislation, and future-proofing the port’s commercial operations. Included in the new border control building was the installation of 216 solar panels, which will save thousands of CO2 emissions (kgs) every year.
Jim Stewart, Chief Executive of Poole Harbour Commissioners, said “The Public Trade Office is an essential piece of infrastructure for a port. The future for the Port of Poole would have been jeopardised without the construction of this building. For businesses importing or exporting through Poole, this facility will ensure they have access to Europe. It will create economic growth, it will create jobs, and it will help to keep Poole on the map as an international gateway.”
On the other side of the county, the construction of a flagship University Centre and Rural Business Hub will enhance higher education opportunities for young people in rural areas while providing incubation and growth opportunities for small rural businesses. Based at Kingston Maurward College near Dorchester, the new centre will enhance the college’s role in supporting rural enterprise by ensuring a growth of in skills and enterprise focused on the agriculture and agritech industries.
Luke Rake, Principal and Chief Executive of Kingston Maurward College said: “Our ambition to change lives has been supported throughout by Dorset LEP and partners. Dorset LEP’s investment in the new £3.5 million centre based at our campus, will provide a dedicated work hub space, allowing collaboration between businesses, university partners and research facilities at the college. This flagship project is also an intervention that will help increase social mobility and student outcomes throughout the rural Dorset area, where progression to Higher Education is well behind the national average, particularly for students from low-income families.
“Central to this facility is the One Health Nucleus - driven by Dorset LEP and Kingston Maurward College to bring together work around the inter-relationship between environmental, animal and human health - providing a key strand of the aims we all share to make Dorset the best place to live, work, and play”.
A HEALTHY FUTURE
With an ageing population that’s ahead of the curve nationally, it’s as essential that Dorset maintains a vibrant and healthy economy as it is to sustain a healthcare system that supports a vibrant and healthy population. A vision for an Integrated Care System that provides citizens with better access to services and innovative solutions to enable them to manage their health, wellbeing and care in a better way, is being brought to life through Dorset LEPs £3.5 million investment in healthcare research, innovation and clinical practice enhancements.
A trailblazing remote hypertension monitoring programme from Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), is already trialling a digital solution to enable personalised self-management of hypertension that will accelerate any required interventions while improving clinical efficiency
Meanwhile, a clinical trials facility is providing a safe environment for patients to participate in ground-breaking research, allowing companies to better deliver research-led health and medical innovations, clinical products and clinical practice innovations.
Laura Purandare, Head of Research and Development at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are so excited to be launching the unit and seeing the investment made by Dorset LEP come alive. With our local population of over 65’s expected to grow by 22% by 2029, this investment in research will help us support people to ‘age well’. The trials unit and research centre provide the environment and infrastructure for us to work closely with fellow health and social care providers in the region which will clearly benefit patients within the county and nationally.”
Construction a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre at the AECC University College in Boscombe, expected to open later this year, will enhance their health sciences education portfolio and deliver improved clinical services in radiology, musculoskeletal care, sport and exercise rehabilitation to local people.
SPOTLIGHT ON SKILLS
There are 15 neighbourhoods in Dorset that fall among the 10% most deprived in England. Improvements to skills provision is an important pathway to tackling deprivation in local communities. Through the Getting Building Fund, Dorset LEP has invested £4.4 million in the region’s three further education providers.
In addition to the University Centre and Rural Business Hub at Kingston Maurward College which also supports regional enterprise, Dorset LEP’s investments have enabled the redevelopment of Weymouth College’s Higher Education Centre, allowing students to combine practical, transferable and academic skills to help them find work, help businesses fill skills gaps and boost local productivity.
A digital network upgrade at Bournemouth & Poole College has supported the increased use of digital resources on campus, onsite learning, and the delivery of online teaching.
DIGITAL LANDSCAPE
The impact of COVID-19 has demonstrated the absolute necessity to have reliable, resilient and up-to-date digital infrastructure that can support economic activity and provide community services. To achieve this and enable inclusive growth, improvements to digital infrastructure and ability to exploit its potential is essential, particularly in rural areas where connectivity is typically poor.
Dorset LEP investment of £1.6 million to support the delivery of enhanced digital full fibre (gigabit) connectivity across the Dorset Council spatial area, has improved economic activity and productivity by introducing both broadband coverage and infrastructure which ensure a fast, connected future. Deployment of gigabit infrastructure will improve commercial conditions and will be a key enabler for improved mobile connectivity, including 5G, in rural Dorset.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
By 2025, this investment programme by Dorset LEP is expected to have provided over 14,000 essential superfast broadband connections in rural Dorset, and CO2 emission savings of over 23,000kgs driving forward Dorset’s efforts to achieve national targets to be a net zero economy by 2050. Improvements in enterprise and healthcare are already being realised and will be further developed by the creation/safeguarding of over 300 jobs, supporting over 250 businesses, the creation of 1,500m2 commercial space, almost 2,000m2 of learning space and 150m2 of research and development space.
Cecilia continued: “Dorset is an incredible place with world-renowned landscape and coastline. We are passionate about making the region a place to live, work and study better. The achievements of this capital investment programme are just one highlight of how we’re helping to make this happen.”
This investment programme is one of several initiatives delivered by Dorset LEP in support of an ambition to support the county emerge from the pandemic with a stronger, adaptable and more resilient economy.
Details of all projects can be found at: dorsetlep.co.uk/projects
Find out more about Dorset LEP’s work to support recovery from COVID-19 at: dorsetlep.co.uk/covid-19-response