The Joint Enterprise Delivery Committee met on Thursday 19 March 2026 to discuss and approve a range of initiatives aimed at supporting business growth, skills development, and economic prosperity across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Key decisions included the continuation of funding for the Growth Hub and Careers Hub, the development of a Destination Management Plan for the visitor economy, and the expansion of the ScaleUp Loans programme.

Growth Hub

The committee approved the continuation of contingency funding of £298,250 from former Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) reserves for the 2027-28 financial year to ensure the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub can operate on a two-year strategic basis. This decision was made following confirmation from the government that core funding for the Growth Hub will continue until March 31, 2027, though final details of longer-term arrangements are still awaited. The committee also noted the successes of the Growth Hub, which acts as a primary point of contact for businesses seeking support, having assisted over 1,500 businesses in the last two years. Responsibility for finalising and submitting the annual report and other required government documents was delegated to the Growth Hub Steering Group and the County Council's Section 151 officer.

Careers Hub Delivery Plan & Performance

The committee reviewed and approved the Careers Hub Delivery Plan for 2025-26 and its performance update for the first term. A key decision was to approve the continued ring-fencing of reserves to support the Hub's delivery for an additional year, providing a safeguard in case funding from the Careers Enterprise Company reduces or ceases. The Careers Hub, which operates across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, aims to embed careers education within schools and strengthen the local talent pipeline. Current figures show 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.

Local Visitor Economy Partnership

The committee considered the draft Destination Management Plan (DMP) for the local visitor economy and agreed for it to be presented to a future meeting of the Staffordshire Leaders Board. They also supported the use of legacy Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP reserve funding to extend the roles of the Account Manager and Business Tourism Manager for a further two years. This initiative aims to foster long-term growth in partner membership and ensure the success of the visitor economy, which is a significant sector for the region, valued at approximately £2.7 billion annually and supporting over 25,000 jobs. The DMP outlines four key aims: celebrating national significance, championing local creativity, advocating for the region's attractions, and curating seamless visitor journeys.

ScaleUp Loans

The committee agreed to develop and adapt the existing Green Loan Scheme into a new ScaleUp Loans Programme. This programme will aim to accelerate business expansion, modernise facilities, and enhance energy efficiency, with the ultimate goal of driving job creation, innovation, and economic resilience. The decision builds on the success of the Green Loan Scheme, which has already deployed £1.3 million to businesses with no defaults to date. The ScaleUp Loans Programme will broaden eligibility beyond energy efficiency to encompass productivity improvements and job creation. Updates on the scheme's delivery will be provided at future meetings.

LEP Legacy Projects

The committee noted that reporting for the Local Growth Fund and the Getting Building Fund has ceased following instructions from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG). Final returns for these funds were submitted to the MCHLG in May 2025 and were subsequently checked and approved in June 2025. These programmes have delivered substantial investment into Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent over many years, with around £100 million invested through the Local Growth Fund and approximately £24 million through the Getting Building Fund.

Finance Update

The committee received an update on the finances under its oversight, which include various legacy funding streams and government grants transferred from the former LEP. For simplicity, several funding streams have been combined into Joint Committee Unrestricted Reserves. The committee confirmed the 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 covers £100,000 for the development of a Local Growth Plan and £60,000 for procuring labour market intelligence products. The committee also continues to oversee the Growing Places Fund restricted reserves, which will be utilised for the Scale-Up Loans Programme.

Fifty 500

The committee confirmed its ongoing commitment to the Fifty 500 programme, which aims to enhance investment along the A500 road corridor. They agreed that Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, in collaboration with public and private sector partners, will continue to advocate to the government for investment in the programme. A budget of £200,000 from the SSLEP legacy reserves has been allocated as a budget envelope for the programme, to be drawn down incrementally for Fifty 500 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, with the expectation that both parties will agree on any spending decisions. The committee will maintain oversight of the budget envelope, with progress reports to be provided at future meetings.