A new organisation to promote the county’s economy was officially launched today (Tuesday),  along with the promise of £500,000 to boost the county’s economy.

The GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) will replace the soon to vanish regional development agency and was unveiled in front of 160 business people at GE Aviation in Bishop’s Cleeve.

At the launch event, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of the county council, confirmed the half a million pounds the council will receive from the New Homes Bonus scheme will be injected into five new projects.

“I am delighted to announce that this one off £500,000 funding will be used to boost business and build on the excellent work we already have going on in the county,” said Mr Hawthorne.

“We are ahead of the game in many areas, but in this financial climate we need to focus our resources where they can make the most difference. These five projects will do just that.”

The cash will be spread among schemes including the development and delivery of a skills programme bringing education closer to employment, further investment in the roll-out of superfast broadband, a new business ambassadors scheme, local regeneration projects (including £100,000 investments in Cinderford and Gloucester) and further development of the Strategic Infrastructure Delivery Plan – which outline what infrastructure the county will need with new developments.

Speaking at the launch event GE Aviation site leader Mike Grunza said it was time that the county’s economic voice was heard in the corridors of power in London.

“We have got to make a louder noise,” he said. “I hope this kicks off a great partnership and to say that this area of the country is important.”

Business leaders heard that the new LEP would tackle key economic areas: economic growth, infrastructure and regeneration and education and skills.

The LEP’s new chairperson, Diane Savory, former chief operating officer at Cheltenham based fashion chain SuperGroup, stressed that it would only succeed with the support of local businesses-the “heartbeat” of the economy.

“We need you the business community to help us,” she said. “SuperGroup has proved that great businesses can grow here, be nurtured and flourish.”

GFirst, the economic partnership has had its funding from the county council halved to £700,000 because of public spending cuts and the LEP will have to find ways of generating income..

But council leader Coun Mark Hawthorne said the authority fully backed the LEP. “It is going to play a key and integral part in taking the county forward.”

Gloucestershire Media’s MD Sarah Irvine asked how the LEP would communicate its message. GFirst’s chief executive David Owen said a new scheme, glambassadors UK would be launched with business people volunteering to promote the county at home and abroad.

A new initiative is being launched to link up businesses with schools to help improve the “employability” of young people. And David Owen said a major aim was ensure that superfast broadband reached all the county’s homes and businesses by 2016-slow broadband speeds are a major headache for many areas at present.

Another LEP board member Michael Tripp, chief executive of Gloucester based Ecclesiastical Insurance, said: “Gloucestershire has so much potential, it has a fantastic future.”

It was announced that Edward Gillespie, managing director of Cheltenham race course, is the latest business person to join the LEP board and will be working with BBC’s Countryfile presenter Adam Henson to promote the county’s tourism industry.

For more information about the gl-ambassadors program please visit www.gl-am.com or contact Chris Dee on 01452 328302.