In England, local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) are voluntary partnerships between local authorities and businesses, set up in 2011 by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to help determine local economic priorities and lead economic growth and job creation within the local area.[1] They carry out some of the functions previously carried out by the regional development agencies which were abolished in March 2012. In certain areas, funding is received from the UK government via growth deals.
After the March 2017 merger of Northamptonshire LEP into South East Midlands LEP, there were 38 local enterprise partnerships in operation.
The government plans to withdraw support for the partnerships in 2024.[2]
- ^ "Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Enterprise Zones". GOV.UK. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ "Government plans to abolish leps". 15 March 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.