Enterprise M3 appoints highly experienced board to drive local economy
Representatives of businesses of all sizes, the armed forces, councils and the voluntary and education sectors are set to work together to boost the local economy after the appointment of a high profile and experienced line-up for the board of Enterprise M3.
The new board members join the already appointed Enterprise M3 Chairman Geoff French, from URS Scott Wilson, and Vice-Chairman John Copley, from Farnborough Aerospace Consortium. The board reflects the aims of the local enterprise partnership to bring together a balance of senior representatives from business, to articulate the issues that business want to see addressed, and senior representatives from the public sector to provide a clear route to implementation through local authorities. All board members will serve on an unpaid basis.
From the business world the board members are:
• Tim Colman - Chairman of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Federation of Small Businesses
• Peter Cowen - Partnership Director, BT
• Kate Dean - Regional Director, SEGRO plc
• Laura Pelling - Chief Executive of Business Link South East, Serco
• Louise Punter - Chief Executive, Surrey Chambers of Commerce
• Mike Rushworth - Managing Director, Vitacress Salads Ltd
Representing the public sector side of the partnership are:
• Leader of Hampshire County Council Cllr Ken Thornber
• Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Cllr Andrew Finney
• Leader of East Hampshire District Council Cllr Patrick Burridge
• Leader of Surrey Heath Borough Council Cllr Moira Gibson.
• With a place being held open for Surrey County Council
They are joined on the board by:
• Brigadier Neil Baverstock representing the armed forces
• Managing Director of the Surrey Research Park at the University of Surrey Dr Malcolm Parry
• Paul Bright from Relate, representing the voluntary sector.
The board members, who are all appointed for a minimum of two years, were selected following a rigorous recruitment process across a wide geographical area, with applicants having to provide details of their experience together with a letter explaining what they would bring to the role.
Enterprise M3 Chair Geoff French said: “We received an exceptionally positive response to our request for representatives to serve on the board of Enterprise M3. As a result I am delighted that we have been able to appoint a strong team with broad representation of large, medium and small companies in different sectors and from across the geography of the local enterprise partnership footprint. Similarly, the public sector has made a strong commitment with senior representatives from across the area, including academia, the armed forces and the voluntary sector. All board members are highly experienced, committed individuals who are prepared to give their time and experience for free to contribute to addressing the hugely important issue of driving economic growth.”
The first board meeting was held on 11 July, with the agenda covering the setting of Enterprise M3’s priorities. These were based on area-wide business surveys, feedback from the launch conference and contributions from the action groups set up to look at key issues and opportunities. The second meeting of the board will be on 7th September.
The areas the action groups are focusing on include finance, innovation and business support; transport, strategic planning and housing; land and property; leisure, tourism, place shaping and inward investment; the rural economy and broadband and skills and employability, as well as the needs of specific industries in the area.
Enterprise M3 has also appointed an implementation group to take action on the key priorities set by the board. The initial members of this group, working with the Chair and Vice Chair and the chairs of the various action groups, have also been announced as:
• Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Chief Executive Tony Curtis
• Federation of Small Businesses Hampshire and Isle of Wight Chairman Tim Colman
• Guildford Borough Council Chief Executive David Hill
• Hampshire Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Jimmy Chestnut and President Dick Oram
• Hampshire County Council Director of Environment Stuart Jarvis
• Rushmoor Borough Council Chief Executive Andrew Lloyd
• Surrey Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive Louise Punter
• Surrey County Council Assistant Chief Executive Susie Kemp
• Surrey Economic Partnership Chief Executive Mark Pearson
• Surrey Heath Borough Council Chief Executive Karen Whelan
Additional information
Enterprise M3 covers the areas of Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Hart, New Forest, Rushmoor, Test Valley and Winchester in Hampshire and Guildford, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking in Surrey, working across traditional boundaries to make a real difference to the people who live and work in the area.
This new style partnership brings together major companies, other businesses and business representatives with the local councils, universities, colleges and other public services making decisions that affect the area’s economy.
Businesses wanting further information about the LEP or wanting to get involved should contact, Natalie Wigman, Business Relationships Manager at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on 01256 845692 or email Natalie.wigman@basingstoke.gov.uk
Don't forget you can follow us on Twitter @twitter.com/enterprisem3
Background
Since the Government announcement, two business and industry leaders have been chosen to help establish the new Enterprise M3 local enterprise partnership and drive forward its benefits for the local economy. Geoff French, of URS Scott Wilson, was appointed the chair and John Copley, of Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, the vice chair.
Chair Geoff French said: “We want our LEP to be as effective as possible as quickly as possible and to achieve that we need the active involvement of the businesses in our area.”
The launch conference presentation and voting results can be found in the files below.
Click here for figures on the LEP’s resident population, employment and unemployment, economic inactivity, employment by occupation, qualifications, out-of-work benefits, jobs (total jobs / employee jobs), jobcentre plus vacancies and VAT registered businesses.
