News

18/06/2011

LEP in pledge to small businesses

The chairman of the new Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has pledged to meet with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) which has issued more criticism of the new board.

Chris Pomfret said he was disappointed by continued criticism from the Cornwall Branch of the FSB saying he had already agreed to meet with it to discuss concerns.  Last week the FSB chairman, Kevin Oliver, said the board of the LEP did not represent small and medium sized businesses in Cornwall.

Members of the board representing the private sector include Simon Tregoning of Classic Cottages, Gaynor Coley from the Eden project, Chris Loughlin of South West Water and Joe Keohane formerly of Sharps Brewery and now Browns Chocolates.

Mr Oliver said "The make up of the LEP board is meant to be reflective of the local business community.  That means there should be strong representation of the small/micro businesses in the Duchy.  Sadly, only one person who actually runs a genuine business predominately based in Cornwall has been selected to the LEP board".

Mr Oliver also continued to claim the FSB has been "frozen out of the process" of setting up the LEP.  He said "it is not looking as if our core objectives will be met.  We don't want strategic leadership - it hasn't worked.  It seems once the council got our signature on the thing, they carried on their own sweet way and things are moving along the way the council wanted". 

However, Mr Pomfret disputed Mr Olivers claims and said he would be meeting with many different organisations and businesses across Cornwall and encouraging them to take an active role in helping the LEP.  He said it was "certainly not true" that smaller businesses were being ignored.

West Briton - 16/6/11.