DEP

Brief History

The Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DEP) was formed on 1 November 2009 when the contract and Accountable Body status for administrating Single Programme funding in the County transferred from the Derbyshire Economic Partnership Ltd, to Derbyshire County Council as part of the East Midlands Development Agency’s (emda) response to the Government’s Review of sub-national economic development and regeneration, published in July 2007.


The Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership, (DDEP), had initially been formed in early 2001, when a shadow board of public and private sector representatives was set up with the aim of creating sustainable economic regeneration through partnership working.
A key factor in the early success of DDEP was its ability to attract significant private sector backing from major local employers such as Toyota, Tarmac and Eurostar, alongside representatives from the public sector, universities and education, and the voluntary and community sector.


In December 2002, DDEP was formally accredited by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) as the Sub-Regional Strategic Partnership, SSP, for the region covering the City of Derby and the boroughs of Amber Valley, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, High Peak and South Derbyshire.


In April 2009 DDEP assumed responsibility for delivering services for the whole of Derbyshire excluding the City of Derby.

 

FUNCTION

The function of the DEP is:

To agree an investment plan for devolved single programme funding in Derbyshire which reflects local priorities and performance manage and monitor the delivery of that programme, aligned to the Derbyshire LAA and Regional Economic Strategy.


DEP brings together business, community, government agencies and local authorities to influence government policy and support the sustainable economic prosperity of Derbyshire. Its purpose is to develop economic strategy, determine priorities for investment and delivery, oversee performance and represent Derbyshire’s economic interests with one voice.

KEY ROLES

The key roles of DEP are to:

a) provide advice, guidance and recommending actions and investments to address key economic regeneration issues and to speak with one key voice on such issues.


b) consider sub-regional, regional, national and global economic issues - as they impact on Derbyshire.


c) Develop, encourage and promote the physical, economic and social regeneration of Derbyshire, particularly those areas identified as physically, economically or socially disadvantaged, or those that offer significant economic opportunity.


d) Commission interventions and projects using funding streams delegated to the Partnership (including Single Programme) which support sustainable economic regeneration across Derbyshire, meet identified area priorities (particularly those of the Derbyshire LAA) and support the delivery of Regional Economic Strategy (RES) objectives at local level.


e) Influence local, regional and national policies, strategies and funding streams of key bodies/government agencies to support and maximise delivery of the Partnership’s objectives for Derbyshire.


f) Investigate, secure and co-ordinate the added value of joint working, funding and commissioning between partners across the County.
 

g) Helping to collate and develop an evidence base to help partners understand key issues, opportunities and threats to economic growth in the County.


h) Review performance, strategic aims, priorities and investment plans.


i) Identify and evaluate impacts of investments in economic development and disseminate best practice both internally and externally.


j) Develop innovation within partnership working and service delivery.


k) Add value to mainstream services by suggesting innovative ways of using available funding to attract and lever further investment and enhanced service delivery into Derbyshire.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND VALUES

The following guiding principles will underpin the work of the Partnership, its Board and committees and sub-groups:

a) support and promote cohesion between the planning and investment activities of partners and stakeholders.


b) utilise and build upon local knowledge and evidence for intervention


c) promote efficient use of public services and funding.


d) provide value for money for investments agreed by the Partnership


e) be outcome driven and impact focused.


f) have sound governance arrangements.


g) encourage and promote collaboration between stakeholders and partnerships where appropriate.


h) Its purpose is to develop economic strategy, determine priorities for investment and delivery, oversee performance and represent Derbyshire’s economic interests with one voice

The following values shall be adopted by the Partnership in conducting its business:

a) Transparency, openness and accountability
 

b) Equality


c) Sustainability


d) Integrity


e) Ambition


f) Respect


g) Inclusiveness

 
PRIORITIES OF THE DEP ARE:


To facilitate and co-ordinate economic development and regeneration activities across Derbyshire, while seeking to ensure that initiatives do not conflict, but work towards common goals.


The DEP will consider projects that will encourage business, create jobs, promote equality and help build strong and sustainable communities. Generally, activities supported by the DEP will fall within one of the key themes below:


Employment and Skills


For Derbyshire's businesses to compete successfully in the growing, fast-moving world market, they need workers who are equipped with up-to-date, relevant skills.


The DEP seeks to make sure that people in the region can access the training and education they need, to provide such a pool of talent and know-how. It aims to break down barriers to learning, addressing issues of access to childcare, providing better information about opportunities, and offering advice and guidance.


Business Support


The DEP will play an active role in creating an environment where businesses and entrepreneurs can flourish.
Our challenge is to encourage local people to be entrepreneurial, and to provide assistance to fledgling and growing businesses in the region.


We want to encourage Derbyshire businesses to make the best possible advantage of the services available through Business Link, make the most of the latest technology, facilitating broadband Internet connections across the region, and offering training in ICT systems.


Infrastructure
 

The foundation of a successful economy is its infrastructure - land, buildings, transport, and communications. The DEP will seek to make sure that the region develops a modern and sustainable infrastructure.


Developments will be in keeping with the history and culture of the region, and must be in harmony with the environment - one of Derbyshire's key assets.

Sustaining Communities
- Supporting Tourism, Rural, Community and locally focused issues


The importance of tourism to the region's economy cannot be overstated, and we aim to develop this further, in partnership with the Peak District and Derbyshire Destination Partnership promoting the Peak District, the National Forest, and the Derwent Valley Mills (part of a World Heritage Site).


The underpinning and cross cutting theme of the DEP is "creating sustainable and enterprising communities". We are principally concerned with removing economic barriers to business and community development; wherever you are within the region to make sure that the opportunities we create are open to everyone.
 

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