UWE vice-chancellor Prof Steve West has been appointed interim chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) following the resignation of Stephen Roberston.
Prof West, pictured, takes up the reins of the organisation as it grapples with changes brought in by the election of the region’s first Metro Mayor, the new West of England combined authority that the Mayor will lead and the impact of the upcoming General Election. 
The LEP works with business and councils to support economic growth and attract new jobs and investment to Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding area.
Its board is made up of regional private sector business representatives, the Mayor of Bristol and the leaders of Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset councils.
Mr Robertson, a widely-experienced company director and former chair of Business West – the region’s largest business organisation, was elected chair of the LEP a year ago.
Prof West holds a number of influential positions in regional bodies including president Business West and chair of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Initiative, and vice-chair of the South West CBI.
He said: “The LEP has brought together the best of business and local councils providing a strong, powerful voice for the area. We have unrivalled business strengths, a well-qualified workforce and world-class academic research. I look forward to working with the new combined authority mayor to ensure this continues without interruption.”
Prof West trained as a podiatrist and podiatric surgeon in London and developed his research interests in lower limb biomechanics and the diabetic foot at King’s College London. He holds a number of national and international advisory appointments in higher education in his discipline, healthcare policy and practice.
He is also a non-executive director for the Higher Education Funding Council for England and chair of the Learning for and in Work Challenge Group and a board member of the Learning City Partnership Board.
He is the chair of the West of England Academic Health Science Network (WEAHSN), a board member of Universities UK, chair of the Universities UK Health Education and Research Policy Network and chair of the UUK Mental Health in Higher Education Working Group.
