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A decade of supporting economic growth
The Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership ( SWLEP ) was established in July 2011 and eight years later , at the request of the UK Government , became a not-for-profit company , limited by guarantee . SWLEP has contributed much to define the last decade with its focus on supporting the sustainable economic growth of Swindon and Wiltshire .
Some of the most significant activities have included :
£ 169m of Local Growth Funding secured , leading to a further c .£ 500m additional investment to develop capital projects across the area . These included road and rail improvements and the construction of two Higher Education Centres at New College Swindon and Wiltshire College . The latter supported both gaining university college status , which was awarded to Wiltshire College in 2018 and to Swindon College this year .
SWLEP ' s 10 year timeline
SWLEP also supported the creation of the Institute of Technology , enabling businesses to input directly into course design to meet their needs which built on its earlier Higher Futures City Deal programme .
£ 19m lent to 31 local companies by SWLEP ’ s Growing Places Infrastructure Fund ( GPIF ). This loan fund has been reinvested over the years and led to improvements in business productivity , the development of new floor space and the creation of c . 1200 new jobs and export opportunities .
SWLEP invested in the development of the Porton Science Park and , in 2019 , secured Life Science Opportunity Zone status for the site . This status recognises the international significance of the research and development activity which takes place there which has been a draw in terms national and international investment .
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