LLEP welcomes three new board members
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 27 June 2018
UPDATED: 27 June 2018
The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) is delighted to announce the appointment of Chas Bishop, Karen Smart and Neil McGhee as new LLEP Board Members from the Private Sector.
Chas Bishop is Chief Executive at the National Space Centre and has been in post since the opening in 2001. He launched the National Space Academy and NSC Creative production company in 2008. Chas recently helped develop the Government’s Innovation and Growth Strategy for Space.
Commenting on his new role as a LLEP Board Member, Chas said:
“I am thrilled to be joining the LLEP board. Leicester’s global reputation for space research is about to take another giant leap forward with the arrival of Space Park Leicester and the consequent influx of businesses keen to exploit world class facilities and draw from the highly attractive skills pool on offer.
“My partnership work with the University of Leicester, several colleges and a number of space companies, together with my creative industries experience and non-executive roles will help provide an insight into a range of Leicester and Leicestershire’s priority sectors in the coming years, particularly in the ever-growing tourism industry and creative service industry.”
Karen Smart joined East Midlands Airport as Managing Director in April 2018. She previously held several senior operational roles at London Stansted Airport.
Karen said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the LLEP Board. I’m keen to immerse myself within the local community and play a key role in helping to shape and drive forward strategies that will lead to greater regional prosperity.
“The airport has traditionally had a strong working relationship with the LLEP and I am keen to see this continue. I will bring to the LLEP Board useful insight into a range of regional matters that could help determine the LLEP’s future direction of travel. To achieve our business objectives, East Midlands Airport uniquely straddles both the public and private sectors and we are often the conduit to closer and more productive working between the two. Our skill and expertise in juggling cross-cutting agendas will be of significant benefit to the LLEP region.”
Neil McGhee is Director at Sempervox, a Leicester based small business that uses digital technology to help businesses run their companies from anywhere in the world.
Neil said “I am really looking forward to joining the LLEP board. Leicester and Leicestershire is a place where people get on with the job and we are generally very good at finding solutions to problems. However, sometimes, with a bit of focussed help, we could get to the answer faster and better and this is where The LLEP comes in.
“As an owner of a Leicester based business, I am keen to grow an environment that encourages the development of digital & technology skills in our area. I am an Enterprise ambassador at my local college - building stronger understanding and working relationships between business & education and I am now privileged to be a governor. I want to use these experiences and 40 years in business to help us create a vibrant economy and society.”
The LLEP board consists of 15 board members that includes 8 private sector members, one of whom must be the Chair, the City Mayor, Leader of the County Council, two District Council Leaders, Vice-Chancellor of one of the three universities, a Principal of one of the further education colleges and a Voluntary and Community Sector representative.
The LLEP Board plays a key role in helping the LLEP to shape the local economy by influencing local and national government, as well as providing effective governance to the partnership. They shape and deliver the Midlands Engine Strategy and the government’s Industrial Strategy and act as ambassadors for Leicester & Leicestershire at a local, regional and national level. Board Members make key investment decisions and oversee the LLEP’s spending. They are responsible for making sure that the partnership’s investment delivers value for money and achieves maximum economic impact. To find our more and view a full list of board members visit http://bit.ly/2MqUzGU
Latest News
