How will the LEP impact your business?

The establishment of the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and in this a unified vision for economic growth in a collaborated fashion for the region linking together West Lancashire and the Fylde coast to East Lancashire and the Pennine areas is without doubt a stepping stone to promoting greater business opportunity and awareness both within Lancashire and externally alike. It has been recently said “Spend £1 in Lancashire and Lancashire will spend £1 with you; spend nothing and it will cost you more!”

Merely having a LEP puts us ahead of the game and in the driving seat versus those areas that do not. The LEP in its remit will not only reflect those entrepreneurial, and social harmonies of the routes for Preston¹s Guild, it is hoped that it will provide stimulus to practically deliver the ethos of the governments “big society bid” on the ground. It should also compound those successes laid down previously by the region¹s now expired NWDA (North West Development Agency) promoting enterprise growth zones, impetus to regeneration through infrastructure projects and channel to Westminster as both a voice and ear for the region.

The strategic vision offered by this new opportunity, championed by the partnership of private industry leaders and local and regional governmental chairs, will purport a fantastic vehicle by which to bring focus, growth and opportunity to the region; indeed Petty¹s are already working up schemes and development opportunities with a number of private client investors ensuring maximum potential benefits from the outset.

The LEP¹s vision combined with the 2012 Preston Guild, coupled with Preston City Council¹s recent announcement that Tithebarn has been granted planning consent, which will lead to a private venture investment of circa £700 million within the City; combined with the services and expertise Petty¹s can provide make the future buoyant in Preston and really Petty good!

I have recently joined Petty Chartered Surveyors to launch and steer the new Petty office which has opened in Preston, giving us coverage on both sides of the M6, taking full advantage of the prosperous M65 and M55 corridors alike. The business expansion programme is testament to the success the firm has achieved despite difficult economic times and I look forward to facilitating continued growth, maintaining and improving standards whilst effectively servicing a growing client base.

Jody Lauder
Petty Chartered Surveyors