1. Surrey
connects
Local Enterprise Partnership
- expression of interest
surrey economic partnership
2. surrey economic partnership
The Rt Hon Vince Cable MP and Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
1 Victoria Street 1 September 2010 It is in areas such as Surrey, therefore, that investment for economic growth will prove beneficial to the Exchequer.
London SW1H 0ET With your support, we are aiming for a target of an extra £1billion contribution to the Exchequer.
Dear Sirs Surrey’s Local Enterprise Partnership will continue to drive strong outcomes, particularly in three main areas:
We strongly welcome the invitation to submit an expression of interest to form a Surrey Local Enterprise Partnership. After
reading our expression of interest we hope you agree it is critical that we are fully endorsed as a Local Enterprise Partnership. • infrastructure (with initiatives such as digital inclusion meaning 100% super fast broadband coverage for Surrey)
• business development (including higher business survival rates and a target for new business start ups)
We are proud of Surrey’s achievements to date and of the invaluable contribution we make to the Exchequer. Surrey has • skills and workforce (which involves increasing the number of people ready for employment at all skill levels)
a strong track record of growth and expansion based on our existing platform of success. We have a GVA of £26.5billion,
contribute £5billion net per year to the Exchequer and within our economic geography, we have six of the top 25 most Surrey is uniquely placed in the heart of the South East and has close links with areas such as Buckinghamshire,
competitive districts according to the UK competitiveness index 2010. Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, Wokingham and Windsor and
Maidenhead, as well as the London boroughs of Croydon, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond
We must continue to invest in Surrey’s success to ensure the whole of the UK continues to benefit from our powerhouse upon Thames and Sutton. As outlined in the following expression of interest, we will continue to work collaboratively
economy. We must also support Surrey to ensure its economic success does not stall in relation to the rest of the world. with other Local Enterprise Partnerships in the spirit of our vision of ‘Surrey connects’.
In order to maximise our Local Enterprise Partnership’s potential we need to leverage full resource participation from
central government to meet the challenges that our businesses have already set. Our expression of interest is strengthened
by research undertaken by Oxford Economics which showed that a £1billion investment in the South East would yield Rosco Paterson Andrew Povey
significantly more return in UK GDP (some £160million), relative to the same investment in the Midlands (£119million), and Chair Leader
the North (£76million). Surrey Economic Partnership Surrey County Council
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3. 1. Surrey Local Enterprise Partnership
Surrey has a strong, well-connected, knowledge-driven and wealth-creating goods and services and paying taxes. Surrey acknowledges that it has
economy. It supports a diverse business base of local, national and global to adopt a high-growth strategy for business to achieve these aims.
companies. Surrey has the potential to drive a world-class regional
economy. As significant net contributors to the UK Exchequer, some The Surrey Local Enterprise Partnership will be governed by an
£5billion net per year, Surrey partners recognise that they must continue independent private/public board and business chair - reflecting business
to work together. The partnership is already strong, and we will build on needs and balancing strategy and delivery requirements with business and
it further, by establishing a Local Enterprise Partnership. enterprise at the centre. It will utilise available public resources to unblock
barriers to business growth.
The intent is to maintain and grow a local economy that is outward
looking and well positioned, to support the future economic growth of the Taking advice from key partners in Surrey and neighbouring areas, the
UK. The nature of its business base gives Surrey a central position, driven emerging Local Enterprise Partnership vision can be articulated as follows:
by its location, as a functional economic area. Surrey’s enviable geographic
location, environment, history and cultural assets continue to play an ‘Surrey connects’:
important role in shaping its economy. But latest evidence warns us that
Surrey’s economy needs to be nurtured. To progress a Local Enterprise Surrey’s pivotal position at the centre of major
Partnership in Surrey presents a significant opportunity to
corridors of growth means it can optimise enterprise
help secure local and national prosperity.
opportunities that link the region together.
Critical to the successful establishment of the Surrey Local Enterprise
Partnership is the leadership taken by business in developing this Surrey’s unique location and superb communication
Expression of Interest. This is key to the Local Enterprise Partnership, networks connect us, and our neighbours, to the rest
as ultimately it is business who deliver economic development outcomes; of the world and global opportunities.
creating jobs, innovating, investing in research and development, buying
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4. It will be a partnership led by businesses, able to tackle their needs and Surrey’s Local Enterprise Partnership will build on the established private/
help the economy grow, while at the same time strong and articulate public partnership model of the Surrey Economic Partnership. This
enough to reach out to work with surrounding functional economic areas: provides a sustainable strategic vehicle, and harnesses a significant business
network. Surrey Economic Partnership is chaired and led by business,
• through continued joint working with West Sussex deliver the priorities with the direct involvement of global and local businesses, working with
of the Gatwick Diamond Initiative1 which the Surrey Economic business representative organisations (Confederation of British Industry,
Partnership established Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Business and Surrey Chambers
• with West London and Berkshire harness the inward investment and of Commerce), the County Council, Surrey Local Government Association,
supply chain spin-offs of Heathrow airport three universities (Surrey, Royal Holloway and the Creative Arts) and the
• with Hampshire along the Blackwater Valley grow and maximise the community, voluntary and faith sector.
strengths of the Aerospace, Defence and IT sectors.
Ultimately, the challenge for Surrey going forward is not to be complacent
The Surrey Local Enterprise Partnership will seek ‘pragmatic coalitions’ (ie to rely on past success), but to build on inherent strengths to ensure
with these and other surrounding areas, to solve common problems and Surrey’s competitive future and continued high levels of contribution to
issues, and to maximise the opportunity of key transport corridors and UK plc.
the airports. More can be achieved by working together than alone.
1
Established in 2003 the Gatwick Diamond Initiative is already a successful
Tackling issues such as super fast broadband, transport infrastructure collaborative business-led private/public partnership. It aims to facilitate,
and needs of small businesses are better dealt with on a wider scale coordinate and lead actions necessary to create the right environment for
business growth in the area surrounding Gatwick airport – an area covering
by cooperation between Local Enterprise Partnerships.
three districts in East Surrey and three in North West Sussex.
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5. 2. Tangible outcomes In response, Surrey’s Local Enterprise Partnership will take forward the
concept and action to establish a ‘New Business Plan for Surrey’, engaging
entrepreneurial flair and location for major international companies will
increase the contribution to the Exchequer by growing the economy.
Surrey exhibits many of the downsides of success; congestion, high house partners to deliver real change and a focus on outcomes. The main Surrey’s partners have identified key actions required to support the
prices, pressures on infrastructure and growing socio-economic disparities. towns will be the focus for development of the core knowledge-based delivery of business critical infrastructure, business development and
It is vital that private and public sector partners have a shared vision for Surrey economy. Building on Guildford’s continued strength as the to ensure we have the right skills base for business to thrive.
the spatial and economic needs of Surrey formed within a strong and UK’s most competitive location outside of London, its innovation base,
accountable structure. Surrey’s Local Economic Assessment2 identifies a
number of key challenges for the Surrey economy: Tangible outcomes sought from Surrey’s Local Enterprise Partnership
• comparator economies are catching and overtaking Surrey’s economic Infrastructure Business Development Skills and Workforce
performance • Digital inclusion - 100% super fast • Higher business survival rates • Increasing the number of people ready for
• increasing pressure on economic infrastructure broadband coverage for Surrey • Higher rates of R&D spend employment at all skill levels
• rising unemployment from a low base, especially for young people • Airtrack delivered • Support for innovation agenda • No NEETs by 20203
• growing importance of the relationship with London • Redevelopment of Gatwick airport station • Stimulation of business creation • Maximise university, education and
• large reliance on employment in the public and financial services • Improved road access to the 70 acre Surrey • Active stimulation of inward investment offer business linkages
sectors Research Park • Increase Business Angels and venture captial • Develop social enterprise models
• increasing environmental pressures • Development of low carbon economy availability
• the need for an appropriately skilled workforce • Sector specific support ie tourism, digital
• contraction of the working age population.
3
People Not in Education or Training reduced to 2% by 2015, and full
participation in education, training and employment by 2020 (at 19 years by 2015).
2
Surrey County Council in collaboration with Surrey Economic Partnership Ltd,
Surrey’s Local Economic Assessment Draft for Consultation, July 2010, Surrey’s
Local Economic Assessment Emerging Findings, June 2010 www.surreycc.gov.uk
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6. 3. Developing Surrey’s Local Enterprise Partnership It will build on existing strong business relationships, coupled with a robust
economic research and intelligence function, developing the existing strong
Governance
In developing Surrey’s Expression of Interest for a Local Enterprise Following consultation with partners, we propose a Local Enterprise private sector led private/public partnership, and working on the following Surrey Economic Partnership (with a private sector approach and strategic
Partnership, business and the public sector have held many conversations Partnership to the current administrative boundary of Surrey, with an strategic objectives: focus to economic development) has operated successfully since 1997,
and business meetings across Surrey and with its neighbours. Surrey explicit intention for collaboration with other areas, due to Surrey’s bringing private and public sector partners together to set the shared
Economic Partnership has hosted significant workshops with large pivotal location and excellent business connectivity. Many of the issues • economic competitiveness with world-class aspirations and capitalising vision for the economic needs of Surrey. It has also brought resource into
numbers of business leaders and other partners to develop a shared that we face overlap with those of our neighbours, such as supporting on Guildford’s competitiveness ranking the county for broadband, innovation, inward investment, skills and getting
vision for our Local Enterprise Partnership proposal. Discussions have innovation and enterprise, raising skills at all levels, maximising inward • stimulate the culture of local entrepreneurship creating new businesses people back into work.
been supported by innovative use of networking media channels led by investment, and capitalising on the global economic links provided by and jobs for sustainable and diverse business growth
Surrey Economic Partnership. Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The Surrey Local Enterprise Partnership • deliver sustainable economic infrastructure: SMART growth, super-fast By using an established base, and transitioning to the Surrey Local
will collaborate with the surrounding areas of Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, broadband, roads, rail, and a world-class business support mechanism Enterprise Partnership, this approach will be able to take advantage of
Once ‘Surrey connects’ is approved as a Local Enterprise Partnership, we West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, • support a ‘can-do’ response from the public sector on spatial planning new opportunities that emerge from the universities, the social enterprise
will confirm the mechanism to deliver the vision and objectives, within the Wokingham and Windsor and Maidenhead, as well as the neighbouring and getting the most out of new investment, such as the Local sector, the 2012 legacy, the two international airports, and the significant
parameters of available funding. London boroughs of Croydon, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Kingston upon Investment Plan environmental and leading edge technology, and R&D activity being shaped
Thames, Richmond upon Thames and Sutton. • raise productivity and innovation with a focus on open innovation, within Surrey.
SMEs, social enterprises, and emerging technologies, tackling barriers to
growth
• maximise inward investment building on the existing strong locational
opportunities with the provision of world class facilities
• ensure a skilled workforce and capitalise on existing education strengths.
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7. Surrey Local Enterprise Partnership - delivering for the UK
Surrey LEP . . . Where are we now Strategic Activities for future wealth creation
the future response
Surrey’s GVA in 2008 = Identification of resources to
Innovation
Transition of established activity to Surrey Local Enterprise Partnership:
£26billion, 15% of the south be re-focussed on Surrey
in action
east’s GVA. Surrey largest Economic
Support Surrey to drive economic recovery for the whole UK
net contributor to the resilience
Exchequer after London -
some £5billion a year Inward
investment Global
competitiveness
Need to keep the engine Needs to be business
room of the UK economy focused - rebalancing the Economic research
Invest in success
oiled economy and intelligence
+
Business focused
projects
Surrey enabled for quicker Surrey’s GVA grew by 32%
and greater marginal return between 2000-07, but GVA
on government investment per capita stagnant Strategic/business
critical infrastructure
Skills for wealth
World class business Increasing strain on Surrey’s creation
location - easy access to two infrastructure impeding its
international airports and ability to attract investment,
strategic road network drive economic growth and Implementing
sustain tax revenues the LEA
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8. Surrey connects Annex 1 - why Surrey?
Surrey’s success comes from geographical proximity to London and two European regions (down from 12th in 2004). If the relative rank of the
international airports (Heathrow and Gatwick). It has a diverse global South East economy is falling, then it follows that Surrey’s is also falling,
business base, three universities (Surrey, Royal Holloway and the Creative although within the UK Competitiveness Index (ranking 12 regions),
Arts), highly qualified residents, and a high quality natural environment. for the first time the South East has displaced London into 2nd place.
It is an attractive environment for international businesses and has a According to the UK Competitiveness Index 2010, six Surrey districts
strong culture of enterprise and innovation. are within the top 25, and the county town of Guildford is deemed the
most competitive ‘city’ in the UK (outside London). Surrey also has three
Surrey is well recognised as one of the powerhouse economies of the districts within a previously identified growth point, the Gatwick Diamond,
UK, with Gross Value Added (GVA) of £26.5billion (around £24,000 per within its administrative boundaries.
head of population). Surrey has the largest sub-regional economy in the
South East, accounting for 15% of regional GVA, and has an economy Overall, Surrey demonstrates strong performance in a number of areas
comparable in size to that of Birmingham and Liverpool combined4. (relative to comparator areas). It has a high proportion of jobs in
Surrey is the most densely populated shire county in the South East knowledge-based industries, business start-up rates and residents with
with a current population of 1.1m. The core county area is home to high-level qualifications – all of which are important drivers of productivity.
over 61,000 businesses, of which over 250 are global companies (the As a result, resident and workplace earnings, as well as total GVA, are
largest concentration in the UK outside of London). generally higher in Surrey than the rest of the South East.
The World Knowledge Competitiveness Index (2008), shows that the
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The size of Surrey’s economy is similar to that Birmingham and Liverpool
South East of England was ranked 74th out of 145 global regions (down (England’s second and third largest cities by population) combined (based on 2007
from 40th rank in 2004) – London is now 102nd down from 46th data - £26.5bn vs combined total of £27bn respectively). Surrey’s economy is also
comfortably larger than that of Liverpool and Leeds (third and fourth largest cities
in 2004. The South East region has also slipped within the European combined (£26.5bn vs combined total of £25bn respectively).
Competitiveness Index (2006/07) being ranked 16th among 118
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9. Annex 2 - challenges and opportunities
Like many local economies in the 21st century, Surrey is increasingly In championing this dialogue with other local enterprise partnerships, we
affected by external events and competition on a global scale. Despite can also look outwards to maximise opportunities from emerging markets
Surrey’s past economic successes, in relative terms Surrey is slipping in in China and India, and the transition to a low carbon future. Since growth
the competitiveness stakes. We need to focus attention on aspects of follows communications corridors, connecting our activity will maximise
the regional, national and international economy where we can have a benefits for all, whether they are NEETs or commuters, owners of urban
tangible influence. or rural businesses, micro or multi national, home-grown or from overseas,
as well as social enterprises and the voluntary sector.
The largest employment sector in Surrey is currently finance, business
and insurance. The sector with the biggest losses of employment in Our vision recognises that some connections needs to be faster, bigger
Surrey 1998 – 2008 was manufacturing, transport and communications. and better, such as fast speed broadband, and connectivity by rail
Now a re-balancing from the public sector to private sector is implied. (including freight), air and roads. We recognise the opportunity for high
This is welcomed, but given the public sector accounts for 24% of Surrey’s growth among our large base of small businesses5, so they can reap
employment base, we need to ensure opportunities for employment the benefit of international supply chains, and continue to enhance the
in the private sector arise in response to avoid unnecessary and costly county’s reputation for entrepreneurship and high growth potential.
worklessness.
We need to generate significant added value and maximise our returns
on both public and private sector investment in Surrey. Collectively we
can make much more of the economic development resource in Surrey
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In Surrey 99.5% of businesses are small and medium enterprises. Of these Surrey has
a relatively low level of medium-sized businesses, with only 2.3% of its businesses falling
across the private and public sectors. Together we can also champion the into the 50-199 employees category.
dialogue with government on key business barriers that are stifling growth.
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10. Mark Pearson
Chief Executive
Surrey Economic Partnership Ltd
T: 01483 685230
E: mark@surreyeconomicpartnership.org
Susie Kemp
Assistant Chief Executive
Surrey County Council
T: 020 8541 9008
E: susie.kemp@surreycc.gov.uk
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