Eighteen ‘experienced business representatives’ have been tasked with driving business growth in Worcestershire as members of the Business Board of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Worcestershire LEP announced the composition of the Business Board this week after reviewing the experience and business background of 70 applicants.
The members have been selected as representative of a wide range of Worcestershire businesses, based on size, sector and geographic location within the county.
The Business Board will be responsible for providing business leadership and expertise, influencing policy making and shaping the economic environment for new and existing businesses in Worcestershire.
It will report in to the Executive Board of the LEP which will be made up of four representatives from each of the public and private sectors.
Worcestershire LEP is currently considering applications for the position of chair of the Executive Board, to be announced later this month. The seat will be filled by a leading member of the business community and he/she will hold the casting vote on the Board.
Francis Christie, chair of the Shadow Board and county chair of the Institute of Directors, is confident the Business Board will shape the private sector’s vision and strategy on behalf of the Local Enterprise Partnership.
He said: “We’re delighted to announce and introduce our Business Board after receiving such a fantastic response from the Worcestershire business community.
“The make-up of the board contains a wide range of high calibre business names all offering individual expertise, either in terms of the very high profile businesses they operate or the specific skills and senior experience they can bring to the LEP.
“We’re more than confident our newly appointed Business Board will not only drive economic development forward by actively promoting Worcestershire as a place to invest and work; but also focus on business growth and creating new jobs throughout the county.”