Introduction

From 1 April 2024, the functions of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) will transfer to Somerset Council and the other upper tier authorities in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth. The Council will be responsible for economic development, jobs and prosperity and will continue to forge a strong alliance between the council, businesses and education, through a new Somerset Growth Board.  It is all part of a government plan to give responsibility for economic growth to democratically accountable local authorities.

Somerset Council will be responsible for economic strategy, government programmes, and ensuring local business has a voice in decisions affecting future of our economy through the Growth Board.  Somerset Council will continue to work in Partnership with neighbouring Local Authorities.

Somerset Council has been a major partner in the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership. We work closely with neighbouring councils on sector support and where the geography makes sense.

We are currently working on setting up a new Somerset Economic Growth Board and developing a new Economic Prosperity Strategy for Somerset. Existing strategies can be found on our Somerset Recovery and Growth Plan page. Details of the board and the new strategy is due to be published in Autumn 2024.

More information

• The Great South West website
• Heart of the South West Growth Hub website