MORE than 60 delegates from Worcestershire businesses took part in an interactive workshop at Worcester Bosch covering the likely content of the strategic economic plan due to be submitted to Government by March 31. Organised by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, the event offered county businesses the opportunity to have their say in shaping the future economy of the area.

The workshop was also an opportunity for Gary Woodman, LEP executive director, to outline the connecting schools and business initiative that was launched earlier in March. This is a partnership between Worcestershire LEP, the Worcestershire Association of Secondary Heads, the county’s 78 strategic businesses and the Worcestershire Ambassadors and is being delivered by Worcestershire Business Central. Mr Woodman said all 29 of Worcestershire’s state high schools had enlisted for the initiative, alongside more than 100 local businesses, and he urged those companies that had not already done so, to sign up to the initiative via the website.

Peter Pawsey, the LEP's executive chair, added: "Throughout our strategic economic planning process, we have been keen to engage with the private sector and this event has provided us with the latest opportunity to do just that. We will continue to engage with the private sector, and indeed our partners in the public and not-for-profit sector, until the submission date, We are also very conscious of the need for their continuing support as our ambitious plans for Worcestershire come to fruition in the coming years.”