Local councils are being urged to work with their Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to create new jobs and boost economic growth across the country.

Council will have the chance to seize the economic initiative by identifying businesses on their patch with investment or export potential.

This includes building on the commercial strengths of rural areas that will boost the building trades with ambitious plans for new Enterprise Zones.

Ministers want local business and civic leaders to encourage firms with shared interests to stand together and form a stronger commercial proposition.

These new zones, if supported by a strong business case, will enable places to drive growth and jobs creation.

The government is building on the success of the existing 24 Enterprise Zones which by last December had attracted 15,500 jobs around the country since they opened over the past 3 years and delivered a multibillion-pound boost to local economies.

Enterprise Zones bring with them a raft of benefits to businesses including lower taxes, access to superfast broadband and streamlined planning permission to boost local infrastructure.

Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse James Wharton said: “Enterprise Zones are creating thousands of jobs, attracting billions of pounds of investment.

“Britain is a great place to do business and this is a chance for local areas to build on their benefits. As part of our long-term economic plan it is only right we allow more to share our national success.

“With this new round of Enterprise Zones even more areas and businesses will be able to benefit from the support they bring.

“Only the very best bids will succeed but this is a chance for council leaders and businesses to make their case and secure a real boost to the local economy.”