Solent Local Enterprise Partnership

Solent Local Enterprise Partnership functions as a pivotal economic development organization dedicated to transforming the Solent region's economic landscape through 2050. Established as a business-led collaboration between private, public, and educational sectors, the LEP strategically channels investments to stimulate sustainable growth across Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight. Their mission centers on creating an environment where businesses can flourish, innovation thrives, and communities benefit from increased prosperity and opportunity. Through their comprehensive "Connect - Advocate - Lead - Collaborate - Deliver" framework, the organization ensures a methodical approach to regional development.

The investment portfolio of the Solent LEP encompasses diverse sectors critical to the region's economic resilience, including maritime industries, advanced manufacturing, clean growth technologies, and digital innovation. Having facilitated over £600 million in economic development funding since its inception, the partnership has successfully supported numerous infrastructure projects, skills initiatives, and business growth programs. Their strategic capital investments have helped transform sites like the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus and the Southampton Solent University innovation complex, creating employment hubs and catalyzing private sector investment throughout the region.

With a distinctive focus on maritime excellence, the Solent LEP has positioned the region as a global leader in this sector, leveraging its natural coastal advantages and historical maritime heritage. Their investment approach prioritizes projects demonstrating clear economic returns, environmental sustainability, and social value creation. The partnership maintains a balanced portfolio spanning early-stage innovation funding through their Growth Accelerator Programme, mid-scale business expansion support, and large-scale transformational infrastructure investments. This multi-tiered strategy ensures comprehensive economic development addressing both immediate needs and long-term regional ambitions.

Looking toward 2050, the Solent LEP has embraced an increasingly collaborative investment model, working closely with central government, neighboring LEPs, and international partners to maximize impact. Their forward-looking strategy emphasizes clean growth opportunities, digital transformation, and workforce development to address emerging economic challenges. The partnership's governance structure, combining business leadership with public accountability, ensures investments remain strategically aligned with both national policy objectives and local priorities. Through continued stakeholder engagement and evidence-based decision-making, the Solent LEP remains positioned as the region's primary catalyst for sustainable economic growth, creating pathways to prosperity for businesses and residents throughout the Solent area.