Our latest Annual Report showcases our successful delivery of a wide range of investment projects in 2018/2019 and we’re proud that our work with the Local Growth Fund and the Growing Places Fund resulted in the management and strategic planning of 45 economic growth projects across the county.
Our Invest in Dorset team had a record year securing 15 inward investment projects for Dorset, and Dorset Innovation Park goes from strength to strength with the approval of a Local Development Order to streamline the planning process for employment plots, the opening of twenty new business units, and welcoming new occupiers to the park.
We welcomed news that Dorset will become a Careers Hub, significantly improving careers support for young people across Dorset and launched Dorset Gateway, an information, advice and support service for local businesses.
We continue to be mindful of our responsibility to maintain exceptional standards of governance. In March we updated our Local Assurance Framework to reflect the National Assurance Framework giving additional assurance to government and local partners that we have robust practices and standards in place to ensure that Dorset LEP’s funding decisions are proper, transparent and deliver value for money.
Our focus is now firmly on the future.
Dorset has a thriving economy, a city region with a growing population, international airport, two commercial ports, two universities, outstanding coastline and a superb work-life balance. We are the UK’s top area for high growth creative and digital businesses, have the UK’s third largest financial sector, and thriving agritech and aquaculture sectors.
Since the review period for the Annual Report, we have shared initial plans for Dorset’s Local Industrial Strategy which draws on the unique strengths of our region to increase productivity, innovation, earnings and wellbeing across our county. You’re invited to share feedback on these plans by Friday 8 November.
Visit our website to read our Annual Report 2018/19.