Basingstoke MP Maria Miller has congratulated the successful bidding team after the Enterprise M3 bid was approved as a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) by the Business Minister Mark Prisk. The Enterprise M3 LEP covers North Hampshire and north-west Surrey, with Basingstoke very much at its heart.

Maria said: “I am delighted that the Enterprise M3 bid has been successful. Businesses are at the heart of this bid, and this new partnership will provide the knowledge and strategic leadership to establish a clear vision and set local priorities.”

She added: “Enterprise M3 has a critical role to play in creating the right environment for economic growth and for businesses to flourish. The future prosperity of the country is driven by business, and success in our area is critical to the success of the whole country.”