Business leaders sought to join Local Enterprise Partnership Board

Business leaders from Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire are being sought to help to lead the area’s local enterprise partnership and help drive its economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and future growth.

The Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire LEP (SSLEP) is recruiting two new directors to its company board which sets the strategy and investment activity to grow the future economy of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. They will represent the area’s diverse business community.

Their roles will be critical in the area’s recovery from Covid-19 and steering its businesses and communities through the Brexit post-transition period and ensuring their voices are heard nationally. They will lead on applying the Local Industrial Strategy which has been drawn up by the LEP over the last 18 months.

SSLEP is a business-led company limited by guarantee bringing together business, higher education institutions and public sector partners to create the conditions to grow new and better jobs, a higher skilled workforce and increase business productivity across both city and county.

SSLEP’s vision is to transform the area into a connected county with vibrant, competitive urban centres and an inspiring, economic powerhouse in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, enabled by building upon a globally successful business base and ambitious, highly skilled workforce.

Anyone interested or wanting further information should contact: mark.parkinson@enterprisestokestaffs.org.uk

or joanne.kemp@enterprisestokestaffs.org.uk

LEP board member Hannah Ault, who is a director at Stoke-on-Trent ceramics company Valentine Clays said:

I feel proud to be part of a board that is helping to make such a difference for SMEs in Staffordshire, I am passionate about my county and helping to shape our growth has been both rewarding and empowering.

On a personally level these past 12 months I have developed my professional skills and knowledge which will only help to strengthen my own business too. I can’t recommend enough the benefits of being a LEP board member and look forward to welcoming the two new members which I hope will continue to reinforce our organisation.”

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP chairman Alun Rogers said:

The local, national and global economies have been hit by an unprecedented challenge with the Covid-19 pandemic and our rapid and effective response has and will continue to be critical in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire’s recovery.

It is also vital that we are able to guide our businesses and communities the best we can through the post-Brexit period and reaffirming our area’s position as a leading place to invest as the UK establishes its new relationship with the EU and further afield.

We are seeking businesspeople with a strong tracked record in our key business sectors, who share our passion and ambition for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. We want our board to be reflective of our business community and are actively seeking more female business leaders to join us.

They will lead in implementing our Local Industrial Strategy, helping to steer our long-term growth programme. This includes numerous major infrastructure projects and skills development programmes.”