Local Government

PROVIDING VITAL SERVICES FOR PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES

Local government is responsible for a range of vital services for people and businesses in defined areas. Among them are well known functions such as social care, schools, housing and planning and waste collection, but also lesser known ones such as licensing, business support, registrar services and pest control.

Councils have a key role in driving economic recovery. We continue to press the Government to deliver real devolution of economic powers and funding to councils.

Local Gov

Growth Hubs

If you are looking for business support or guidance, your local Growth Hub is there to help you.

The network of 38 Growth Hubs are local public/private sector partnerships led by the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). They join up national and local business support, so it is easy for businesses to find the help they need.

Both the Gov website and the Business Support Helpline (0800 998 1098) also offer advice about starting up a business and can direct business to more support.

South West Growth Hubs

LEP Area Website Link
Gloucestershire GFirst
Swindon & Wiltshire Swindon and Wiltshire
West of England West of England
Somerset County Council Somerset County Council
Heart of the South West Heart of the South West
Dorset Dorset
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

Resources

News and Posts

The countdown to Farnborough International Airshow 2026

With just over two months to go, countdown is officially underway for Farnborough International Airshow 2026 – a cornerstone event in the global aerospace and defence calendar. ADS South West is proud to be showcasing the strength, innovation and capability of the...

Bristol & Bath Cluster Meeting Round-Up

Last week marked our first cluster meeting as ADS South West, bringing 60+ members together for a productive morning of collaboration and networking. We kicked off with arrival informal networking, followed by a warm welcome from Lee Bruce, who set the scene with...

FIA Masterclass Webinar: Key Takeaways Ahead of This Year’s Show

A big thank you to everyone who joined the ADS South West team for our Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) Masterclass webinar, and especially to our speakers who shared their time, experience and honest advice on how to get the most out of this year’s Farnborough...

Cheltenham & Gloucester Cluster Meeting Round Up

WEAF hosted its last Cluster meeting as we transition into ADS South West our latest Cheltenham & Gloucester Cluster meeting at Dowty Propellers, Gloucester, bringing together a cross-section of the region’s aerospace and advanced engineering community, including...