We work to make the North East a place where more businesses invest, grow and prosper - delivering more and better jobs for everyone. We are responsible for delivering the North East Strategic Economic Plan. The Plan details how we will work together with partners, businesses and communities in an innovative, pro-active and cohesive way, to implement the Plan’s ambitions. It focuses on six key areas: innovation, skills, business support and access to finance, employability and inclusion and transport and digital connectivity. We act as a champion for the area, bringing public and private investment into the area. This includes a £290m North East Growth Deal and £460m allocation of European Structural and Investment Funds. We work with partners to create the right environment for growth, through our North East Investment Fund, Enterprise Zone and investment in transport. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership covers County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland. It is business led and governed by a private and public sector board, chaired by former PwC senior partner Paul Woolston.