The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership aims to bid for one of the new Enterprise Zones which have been announced by the Government.

Councils and businesses are being urged to work with the LEP to bring forward plans for a new Enterprise Zone to join the network of 24 zones that already exist across England.

Ministers want local business and civic leaders to encourage firms with shared interests to team up and form a stronger commercial proposition.

The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is calling for expressions of interest by 10^th August 2015 so it can make a bid before the Government deadline of 18^th September 2015.

Enterprise Zones bring with them a raft of benefits to businesses including lower taxes, access to superfast broadband and streamlined planning permission to boost infrastructure improvements.

There are currently 24 Enterprise Zones in England; by last December they had attracted 15,500 jobs since they opened three years ago and delivered a multi-billion-pound boost to local economies.

Parts of the existing Humber Enterprise Zone, at 484 hectares the largest Enterprise Zone in the country, are at Port of Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire and at Able UK in North Lincolnshire. It is the UK’s largest development site next to a deep water port and has huge potential for the offshore renewables industry.

“This is good news for Greater Lincolnshire and we welcome the Chancellor’s proposed extension to the Enterprise Zones network,” said Ruth Carver, Director of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

“We will work with local partners to consider an Enterprise Zone in Greater Lincolnshire while we continue to develop our three planned Food Enterprise Zones.”

James Wharton, Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse, said:

“Enterprise Zones are creating thousands of jobs and attracting billions of pounds of investment.

“Britain is a great place to do business and this is a chance for local areas to build on their benefits. As part of our long-term economic plan it is only right we allow more to share our national success.

“With this new round of Enterprise Zones even more areas and businesses will be able to benefit from the support they bring. Only the very best bids will succeed but this is a chance for council leaders and businesses to make their case and secure a real boost to the local economy.”

To find out more about Enterprise Zones visit http://enterprisezones.communities.gov.uk/.

Greater Lincolnshire is already home to three of the 17 government-backed Food Enterprise Zones (FEZs): they are being developed in Holbeach alongside the National Centre for Food Manufacturing , at Hemswell Cliff in  West Lindsey and at Europarc in Grimsby.

To make an expression of interest email jon.burgess@lincolnshire.gov.uk or call 01522 553337.

Notes to Editors

• The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership is a business-led
partnership between the private sector, local authorities and public bodies. It
champions the economic development and regeneration of Greater Lincolnshire.
• One of the first LEPs to be established in the UK, the Greater Lincolnshire LEP
covers a large geographical area with a population of over one million and a diverse range of industries, from ports and logistics to farming tourism and engineering.
• It includes North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and the administrative
county of Lincolnshire. It is controlled by a LEP board made up of leading figures
in the public and private sector.
• Find out more by visiting http://www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk/
• The Chancellor George Osborne announced in his Budget on 8th July that all
LEPs now have the opportunity to support an Enterprise Zone and all can now
bid.
• Established in 2012, Enterprise Zones are at the heart of the government’s long term economic plan as they unlock key development sites, consolidate infrastructure, attract business and create jobs.
• Businesses basing themselves in an already established Enterprise Zones in the UK can access a number of benefits:
o Up to 100% business rate discount worth up to £275,000 per business over a five-year period
o Simplified local authority planning, for example, through Local Development Orders that grant automatic planning permission for certain developments within specified areas
o Government support and if necessary public funding to ensure that superfast broadband is rolled out throughout the zone
o 100% enhanced capital allowances (tax relief) to businesses making large investments in plant and machinery in eight of the 24 Enterprise Zones

For media information please contact:
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star
01522 528540
07780 735071
jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk
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