Overview

Following the Government’s decision to transfer the economic growth and business representation functions of LEPs to local authorities, the Buckinghamshire LEP Board and Buckinghamshire Council have approved proposals for the transfer of LEP functions to Buckinghamshire Council as part of the Place Based Growth Board programme.

For more on this transition, please click here.

Representation on BHSCA's Strategic Board following this change is now through the Economy & Investment service within Buckinghamshire Council.

Bucks LEP is advancing an integrated economic development programme in close partnership with Buckinghamshire Council. This will develop a more integrated programme of economic development services in Buckinghamshire as well as providing the opportunity to develop a new pooled economic investment fund.

[Pre-integration into the local authority] The purpose of Bucks LEP is to help drive forward the local economy. Stimulating growth and attracting investment, thereby improving the economic prospects of the communities and people across target areas. Their work is primarily concerned with enabling sustainable and productive economic growth through creating more jobs, up-skilling the workforce and by providing the vital supporting infrastructure and housing.

Achievements and Progress to Date (as Buckinghamshire LEP)

Productivity levels in Buckinghamshire are amongst the highest in the country, Bucks LEP react to new ideas and opportunities to support and grow the business community.

It is no accident that they are the birthplace of the Paralympics at Stoke Mandeville, the creative film engine for James Bond and Star Wars at Pinewood Studios. Their strength lies in the resilient balance between their enviable environment and an over representation in the key growth sectors of life-sciences, space, creative industries, and advanced engineering.

The Bucks Skills Hub, by working with local schools and colleges, is connecting young people with business to develop a dynamic programme of employer engagement.

Skills development is central to creating the conditions for sustained innovation, excellence and growth for Buckinghamshire businesses, particularly in priority sectors as described in their Local Industrial Strategy.

In addition, the Business Growth Hub, Buckinghamshire Business First, is the envy of almost every Local Enterprise Partnership in England. The organisation has an unprecedented reach with over 12,000 business members representing over 75% of the workforce of Buckinghamshire.