The Partnership has now completed its formal Board recruitment process and the new Board will assume its responsibilities on 1^st February 2012.  Since approval in July last year, the work of the Partnership has been taken forward by an informal working group, drawn from local business leaders – this included representation from Honda and Nationwide. It was always the intention to put in place a formal structure and this was started in November last year.

An open and transparent process to fill the eight vacancies for business Board members - widely advertised locally - attracted a strong field of applicants and interviews took place over two days in Chippenham and Swindon. The Board recruitment panel was drawn from the working group and Chaired by Paul Johnson as Chair elect of the LEP. Their brief was to select the best people for the job, but taking into account the need to balance the Board so that it best represented the profile of the area, in terms of geography, gender and business sector The panel were unanimous in their selection of the people they feel were best suited to take the work of LEP forward. One vacancy remains open for a South Wiltshire candidate – reflecting the need to have a geographic balance to the Board.

The eight business people chosen will be joined on the Board by four public sector representatives, reflecting the key role that the two Unitary authorities will have to play, the importance of skills and employment to economic growth and the continued economic impact that the Military presence in the area will have – especially at Lyneham and on Salisbury Plain.

Paul Johnson, Chair of the LEP Board commented:-

“I’m delighted to welcome our new Board members and was impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm shown by all the candidates for the work of the Partnership. I believe that we have chosen a Board that has the right balance to represent the area – both Swindon & Wiltshire. We have a really good mix of skills and some continuity from the Business Working Group – which will stand us in good stead in ensuring we don’t lose momentum.

We have come a long way in a short time and I would like to express my thanks to all the members of the Business Working Group for the time, commitment and energy they have put into building a strong foundation from which we can kick on as a Board – those who are making way will be missed.”

For more information on this release or the LEP generally please contact the Secretariat or visit our web-site : www.swlep.biz

Secretariat: Steve Richards

E.mail:         c2r@sdrichards.demon.co.uk

Telephone: 07748 658230

The Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)

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