It was really good to be able to attend a small briefing by Karime Hassan, Chief Executive of Exeter City Council, today, to hear first hand about the draft HoSW LEP’s Productivity Strategy.
The focus of this meeting, which was consulting those in the Greater Exeter area, was on how to ensure that the economy doubles in the region by 2036, while retaining the character of the area and enabling everyone to benefit from the opportunity.
The debate ranged from the difficulties and necessity of providing rural superfast broadband, and how to attract (or retain) younger talent, to how to turn the perceived negatives of the local economic makeup (aging population, high percentage of jobs in farming) into strengths, for example by creating knowledge-economy niches in aged care and agronomy.
The draft paper can be found here.
Clearly, much thought has already been ploughed into this document, but the LEP is seeking further views until COB on 14 December 2017.
To find out more information or to answer a questionnaire, click here.
