Peter Pawsey has today announced that he will be stepping down from his role as Executive Chair of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership in May after serving in the voluntary role for 4 years.
Mr Pawsey was appointed in May 2011 as Executive Chair for a period of 3 years but last year agreed to extend his role for a further year into 2015. Since then he has overseen major changes and strengthening of both the main LEP Board and the Business Board. The Executive support team under Executive Director, Gary Woodman, has also been bolstered with further key appointments.
Meanwhile the search for a new Chair is underway and it is hoped that an announcement can be made soon in order to allow a period of handover.
“When we set out on this journey in early 2011, we had very little support and a brief from Government that was only just emerging. However a number of key business people from Worcestershire together with Leaders of our local authorities came together to provide facilities and funding which enabled us to start making progress,” said Peter Pawsey.
“As the full extent of the LEP’s responsibilities and objectives have since grown, so too have our resources and capabilities. There have been some spectacular successes across the whole of Worcestershire during the past 3 to 4 years, particularly in the creation of apprenticeship places and new jobs in general. The production of a 10 year Strategic Economic Plan for Worcestershire this time last year was another key milestone. Whilst the Worcestershire LEP cannot claim credit alone, it has certainly been the catalyst for bringing partners across the public, private, education and voluntary sectors together in a concerted programme of initiatives and achievement.”
“I am proud of our record in helping Worcestershire towards achieving its full potential, though it still has far to go. However I am convinced that this is the right time for the LEP to have new leadership, energy and direction, and it is also the right time for me to concentrate on my other personal and business interests”, he continued.
The process for the search for a new Chair is progressing positively and an announcement will be made in the near future.