The Joint Enterprise Delivery Committee met to discuss and approve a range of initiatives aimed at supporting business growth, skills development, and the visitor economy across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Key decisions included the continuation of funding for the Growth Hub and Careers Hub, the development of a new ScaleUp Loans Programme, and the allocation of funds for the A5500 Growth Corridor.

Growth Hub Funding Secured

The committee approved the continuation of contingency funding for the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub, ensuring its operations can continue on a two-year strategic basis. This decision comes as the government has confirmed core funding for the Growth Hub until March 2027, with further details on longer-term arrangements still awaited. The Growth Hub acts as a primary point of contact for businesses seeking support to start, grow, and adapt. Over the past two years, it has engaged with more than 1,500 businesses, referred over 1,000 for specialist support, and hosted events attended by over 600 businesses. The committee also delegated authority to officers for the finalisation and submission of annual reports and other necessary government documentation.

Careers Hub Delivery Plan Approved

The committee endorsed the Careers Hub Delivery Plan for 2025-26 and approved the continued ring-fencing of reserves to support its delivery. This measure will provide a backup in case government funding from the Careers Enterprise Company reduces or ceases. The Careers Hub, a joint operation between Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council, aims to improve careers education and strengthen the talent pipeline for local employers by embedding careers advice into school leadership and learning. Currently, 91% of schools are engaged with the Hub, with a target of 95% by the end of the academic year. The Hub has also delivered significant numbers of teacher encounters and student questionnaires to assess aspirations and ensure appropriate skills pathways are in place. Notably, the Careers Hub is actively engaging with young people at risk of becoming not in education, employment, or training (NEET), with figures indicating they are 86% less likely to become NEET.

Local Visitor Economy Partnership Plan to be Considered

The committee considered the draft Destination Management Plan (DMP) produced by the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) and agreed for it to be presented to a future meeting of the Staffordshire Leaders Board. The LVEP aims to grow the visitor economy, currently valued at approximately £2.7 billion annually and supporting over 25,000 jobs, to over £3 billion by 2030. The DMP outlines a long-term framework for this growth, focusing on celebrating national significance, championing local creativity, advocating for the region's attractions, and curating seamless visitor journeys. The committee also supported the use of legacy Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) reserve funding to extend the roles of Account Manager and Business Tourism Manager for two years to champion and deliver the DMP.

ScaleUp Loans Programme to be Developed

The committee agreed to develop and adapt the existing Green Loan Scheme into a new ScaleUp Loans Programme. This initiative will broaden eligibility to support business expansion, modernisation of facilities, and job creation, in addition to energy efficiency measures. The current Green Loan Scheme, approved in 2024, has been effective in helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access funds, with 20 loans totalling £1.3 million deployed and over £360,000 repaid to date with no defaults. The new ScaleUp Loans Programme aims to be a strategic growth tool aligned with inward investment and business expansion, with updates on its delivery to be provided at future meetings.

A5500 Growth Corridor Investment to be Promoted

The committee confirmed the ongoing commitment of Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to the A5500 Growth Corridor programme, recognising its transformational potential for the sub-regional economy. The A5500, running from Crewe to Nottingham, is a vital route for local economies, serving over one million people and 500,000 jobs, with a significant manufacturing and logistics output. The committee agreed that both councils, working with public and private sector partners, will continue to advocate to the government for investment in the A5500 programme. An allocation of £200,000 from the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP legacy reserves has been approved as a budget envelope for the programme, to be drawn down incrementally to fund related projects. Responsibility for this budget envelope has been delegated to the Assistant Director for Business & Enterprise at Staffordshire County Council, in consultation with the Director – Strategy, Economy and Communications of Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

LEP Legacy Projects Reporting Concluded

The committee noted that reporting for the Local Growth Fund and the Getting Building Fund has concluded, with final returns submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG) in May 2025 and approved in June 2025. These programmes have delivered substantial investments, with around £100 million invested through the Local Growth Fund and approximately £24 million through the Getting Building Fund, supporting business growth and infrastructure projects. The committee acknowledged the instrumental role of the City and County Councils in managing these funding programmes and highlighted this as evidence of their capability to manage national funding programmes, which will be beneficial for securing future devolution funding.

Finance Update and Delegations Confirmed

A finance update was presented, summarising the financial state of funds under the committee's oversight, which were transferred from the former LEP. Several legacy funding streams have been combined into a single pot for simplified management. The committee confirmed the previous delegation of responsibility for the use of Local Economic Development Fund (LEDF) funding to the Assistant Director for Business & Enterprise of Staffordshire County Council, in consultation with the Assistant Director – Strategy, Economy and Communications of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. This delegation will facilitate the development of a local growth plan for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and the procurement of new labour market intelligence products. The committee also continues to oversee the Growing Places Fund, with reserves to be utilised for the loans programme.