Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership has strengthened its commitment to build jobs and growth with the appointment of a host of new board members.
Fresh blood has been injected into both the main LEP Board and the Business Board.
LEP chairman Peter Pawsey said he believed the moves would underpin an ambitious strategy for a better future.
“We have received great support from across the community – I am pleased so many have pledged to continue for a further period and thank all those standing down for their contribution and commitment.
“Worcestershire is fortunate to have such a depth of talent across business and local government. If anything, we believe we now have an even stronger offer – people, with a wide spectrum of abilities, who love this County and are determined to see it progress.”
Saying the balance of membership reflected an excellent geographical spread, Mr Pawsey, who continues to chair the main LEP Board, went on: “We are determined to be as inclusive as we can.”
He has two joint LEP Vice Chairs – Cllr Simon Geraghty, Deputy Leader of Worcestershire County Council, stays in the role while Dean Attwell, Managing Director of Oakland International, takes over from Tony Hyde, whose construction group, Thomas Vale, was recently acquired by French giant, Bouygues.
Other new LEP Board appointments are Carl Arntzen, Managing Director of Worcester Bosch Thermotechnology and John Callaghan, Principal of North East Worcestershire College.
Remaining in post are Cllr David Hughes, leader of Malvern Hills District Council, Cllr John Campion, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council, Ed Webb, Executive Chairman of Webbs of Wychbold, and Alan White, Managing Director of Malvern Hills Science Park.
Dean Attwell, also takes over as Chair of the LEP Business Board with Carl Arntzen as his deputy. Dean heads a highly successful food logistics business in Beoley, Nr Redditch; whilst Carl is the recently appointed Managing Director at Worcester Bosch in succession to Richard Soper.
New appointments to the Business Board are: Jacqui Bayliss of Harris Lamb Property, Rebecca Widdowson of Hallmark Hulme Solicitors, Chris Akers, MD of Titan Steel Wheels, Paul Alekna of e-Response Recruitment, Steve Borwell-Fox, MD of Borwell Ltd and Steve Speller of Speller Metcalfe.
“It is a formidable team,” stressed Mr Pawsey, “and they all have key parts to play within working groups as we focus fully on the four main Strategic Objectives of our Business Plan, National Profile & Promotion, Access to Finance, Employment and Skills Delivery, and Planning, Development & Infrastructure. .
“We have big hopes for the future of the Worcestershire economy and we aim to deliver.”
The LEP has set key measures of success – to increase employment in Worcestershire by five per cent, some 10,000 new jobs by 2017, to account for £750 million worth of private sector investment in Worcestershire businesses and grow the Worcestershire economy in terms of Gross Value Added.