Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP)

About WLEP

The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP), one of 38 in England, is responsible for creating and delivering economic growth and jobs in the County. This is achieved through a partnership approach with business, local government, the third sector and higher and further education working together with a common, shared purpose.

The WLEP is responsible for developing and delivering Worcestershire’s Plan for Growth 2020-2040 which was agreed by all partner organisations across the public, private and education sectors. The WLEP is working to:

• Create 25,000 jobs

• Increase Gross Value Added (GVA) by £2.9bn

• Contribute towards the delivery of 21,500 new homes by 2025.

A total of £71.71m of Growth Deal funding is available between 2015 and 2021. In August 2020 Worcestershire received £12m from the Getting Building Fund for agreed economic projects to ensure that Worcestershire achieves it’s vision of creating a Connected, Creative, Dynamic economy for all by 2024. This includes a range of schemes, for example, to improve: skills, rail connectivity, access to key employment sites and Superfast Broadband. The WLEP is also responsible for a €68m EU programme which contributes to delivery of all parts of the Plan for Growth and provides specific grant funding to support businesses and training with a focus on moving individuals into work.

The WLEP continues to work with the National LEP Network to explore shared best practice and innovations which underpin local-to-national business growth. Worcestershire has established alliances across LEP regions, as well as the Midlands LEPs, to consolidate wider opportunities around the Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect for a connected road, rail and air infrastructure network.