· Developing initiatives and/or pilots which encourage and promote participation of SMEs from across the LEP Partnership. This may mean focusing on areas of emerging strength and aiming to increase the number of SMEs investing in Research and Development, developing new products and processes and accessing R&D support across the area.

· Identifying priority areas in which the LEP Partnership wishes to promote their strengths and influence future thinking.

· The creation of a joint action plan setting out specific actions for all parties, and enhancing coordination and information exchange.

The Partnership’s Growth Hubs will function as a referral point for Innovate UK and will seek to increase traffic to Innovate UK with support from the Innovate UK business facing networks, the Knowledge Transfer Network and the Enterprise Europe Network.

Jim Stewart, chair of Dorset LEP, said, “Part of our economic vision for Dorset is that its competitiveness will be driven by innovation. Our private and public sector organisations are already making great strides in this area and this new agreement with Innovate UK will help to leverage additional funding and support. We are very pleased to be part of this regional partnership and to play our part in boosting innovation, not only in Dorset but across the South West. ”