One of the key speakers, leader of East Dorset District Council Cllr Ian Monks
A businesses event about plans for economic growth in Christchurch and East Dorset was held at the Hub on 26 November.
The third Growth Plan launch event organized by Christchurch and East Dorset Councils brought businesses ‘around the table’ and provided an opportunity for networking and to find out what partner organisations have to offer.
Key speakers were the leader of East Dorset District Council, Cllr Ian Monks; local businesswoman Anna Rosier, managing director of Organix; Gordon Page, chairman of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP); Cllr Claire Bath, portfolio holder for economy and Cllr Simon Tong, lead member for economy.
Gordon Page explained that LEPs are business led partnerships. They decide what the priorities should be for investment in roads, buildings and facilities in the local area. Their aim is to obtain funding from central government to improve economic growth. To achieve this, bids have to be made. “We are asked to be ambitious and we have been,” he said. The first round of bidding had secured funding to develop the infrastructure around Bournemouth Airport as well as the Port of Poole development. “These are two of the biggest development opportunities on the South Coast,” he said. “Dorset has to become more competitive, more talented, more connected and more responsive.”
Key challenges, themes and interventions for the Going for Growth draft delivery plan were discussed. Business owners at the event included Princecroft Willis Chartered Accountants, HG Walker Solicitors, P-PR Media Solutions, Kariminia Business Intelligence Company and mags4dorset.
