Twelve leading individuals from the West of England’s business community have joined the board of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The appointments, made at the LEP’s meeting on Wednesday, will boost it in bringing together representatives from business and universities with elected leaders to shape and develop the region’s future.
LEP chair Prof Steve West said: “This a really exciting time for the West of England – devolution is bringing more decision-making and more money to our region, and this means that the LEP’s role as an advisory body is becoming even more important.
“It’s great that our board now has 12 members from the business community – previously there were five.”
Prof West, who is also UWE Bristol vice-chancellor, said the LEP board’s role was to represent the interests of business and universities, advising the West of England Combined Authority and the West of England Joint Committee on business interests and how we can work together to drive economic growth for all.
“We are all committed to securing the region’s continuing economic success and attractiveness for residents, businesses and communities,” he said.
West of England Combined Authority and LEP chief executive Patricia Greer added: “We have a very impressive new board, full of energy and ideas, with the credibility to champion the West of England at regional, national and international level.
“I look forward to working with them as they help us drive forward our ambitions for the region, challenging and advising us as we work together to boost productivity.”
The 12 new members are:
- Christopher Grier, Airbus
- Neil Douglas, Viper Innovations
- Dick Penny, Watershed
- David Brown, The Bristol Port Company
- Jon Reynolds, BT
- Andrew Hodgson, KPMG
- David Pester, TLT Solicitors
- Katharine Finn, PwC
- Martino Burgess, Gregg Latchams
- Mohammed Saddiq, Wessex Water
- Prof Hugh Brady, University of Bristol
- James Durie, Bristol Chamber & West of England Initiative
The other members of the LEP board are regional mayor Tim Bowles and the leaders and mayor of the region’s four councils – Cllr Tim Warren, Bath & North East Somerset leader; Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol; Nigel Ashton, North Somerset Council leader; and Cllr Matthew Riddle, leader of South Gloucestershire Council.
The LEP board is also supported by a strong wider business reference group and sector groups that engage with business communities across the region.
Pictured: The new LEP board
