The University of Worcester’s National Pollen & Aerobiology Research Unit was the venue for a visit by HRH The Duke of Gloucester last week (20 November).
The Duke, who is Chancellor of the University, was there to receive a briefing from Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP) on the efforts it is making to increase Worcestershire’s appeal as an inward investment destination and to create more and better employment opportunities across the county.
Peter Pawsey, Executive Chair at the Worcestershire LEP, gave an overview of the LEP’s achievements to date and the challenges ahead.
He was joined by the leaders of the LEP’s four ‘Strategic Objective’ Working Groups who reported on their various areas of interest: National Profile & Promotion, Access to Finance, Employment and Skills, and Planning, Development and Infrastructure (respectively: Kate Moss, Director of Communications & Participation, University of Worcester; Roy Irish, Director, Financial Partnership & Support Ltd; Carl Arntzen, Managing Director, Worcester Bosch Group; Jacqui Bayliss, Director, Harris Lamb Property Consultancy).
Speaking after the briefing, Peter Pawsey said: “We were pleased to update His Royal Highness on the positive work being undertaken by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership. I was particularly gratified that we could emphasise the very important efforts being made by our Working Groups towards achieving the LEP’s stated Strategic Objectives. All of our efforts are directed to ensuring that Worcestershire becomes recognised as the place to invest, work, live and play.
“The Duke was particularly interested to hear about the successful development of a major Anaerobic Digester Plant by Evesham Vale Growers near Fladbury. The Plant is uniquely exporting both electricity and gas to the respective national grids. The role that such plants can play in solving the country’s energy needs, particularly in rural areas, is important and HRH welcomed news that a further plant is shortly to be constructed in the county.”
