As the drive to create growth continues, it is becoming increasingly clear that district authorities – within the two-tier areas – will have a key role to contribute.

During a recent presentation by the new chief executive of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) within the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire area, the message was loud and clear: it is important to remember LEPs are not agencies, but partnerships. Their success will be due to those who can grasp the importance of the criteria required for partnerships within the wider community and business stakeholders in developing the priorities: trust, common vision/purpose and collaboration.