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Gloucestershire Business News

Forest businesses urged to back economic partnership

The Forest Economic Partnership (FEP) says it is gearing up for "an action driven 2019" and wants more Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) to sign up and have their voices heard.

Launched last January with a handful of stakeholders, FEP now has over 150 members representing more than 100 organisations and businesses.

FEP was formed to give the Forest of Dean a voice in the Glos2050 big conversation and to deliver a thriving and sustainable economy.

The four SME led sub-groups in relation to digital connectivity, education and skills, bridges and borders and transport and infrastructure have been meeting monthly to identify key issues and objectives for the district.

Andrew Callard, FEP chairman, shared these plans with the attendees at a recent stakeholder meeting at the new Gloucestershire College Campus in Cinderford.

The Forest of Dean has historically been poor at shouting about its successes, a message reinforced at the meeting by guest speaker Ian Mean, Business West Director and Small Business Champion for GFirst LEP,

"The Forest Economic Partnership has now been going for nine months, and has produced a set of excellent plans that bode well for the economic growth of the area," he said.

I am impressed that there is now a driving leadership for the FEP - with plans to match - in the person of Andrew Callard who is a good marketing man.

Those plans to develop growth seem realistic. And I would go as far as to say that I have never seen a better set of plans to deliver such realistic economic growth for a rural community.

But if the Forest is to make real progress, they must get better at shouting about their successes."

The action group is looking to build on its success by delivering an 'Inspiring the Forest' event programme for 2019.

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