Published at 09:17, Thursday, 03 January 2013

BUSINESS people with the skills and vision to boost Cumbria’s economy are being invited to join the board of the county’s local enterprise partnership (LEP).

LEPs were set up by the Coalition Government to lead economic recovery in the English regions, bringing together movers and shakers from the private and public sectors.

The Cumbria LEP aims to “create one of the fastest-growing economies in the UK”.

Although billed as replacements for regional development agencies (RDAs), which have since been abolished, LEPs lack the Government funding that RDAs enjoyed.

Cumbria’s LEP has been in operation for 18 months and says it wants to “refresh” its board of directors.

The board is made up of equal numbers of private and public-sector representatives with a private-sector chairman, currently George Beveridge of Nuclear Management Partners (Sellafield).

The other private-sector members are Fred Story of Story Construction, Jackie Arnold of BAE Systems Submarine Solutions, Maria Whitehead of Hawkshead Relish, Michael Cowen of M&J Cowen, and Stephen Broughton of Lindeth Howe/Mountain Goat.

The public-sector representatives are Eddie Martin from Cumbria County Council, Elaine Woodburn of Copeland Council, Bill Jefferson from the Lake District National Park Authority and Moira Tattersall of Carlisle College.

Private sector directors are appointed for one year and can then be re-appointed for three years.

All the directorships are unpaid.

The LEP is inviting applications from the private sector including not-for-profit and social-enterprise organisations.

Applicants should send a CV and a letter setting out their skills and competences, their reasons for wanting to join the board, what they feel they can contribute and what sectors and areas of thecounty they could represent.

More details are available online at www.cumbrialep.co.uk/get-involved/.

Completed applications should be sent to Suzanne Caldwell, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Broadacre House, 16-20 Lowther Street, Carlisle, CA3 8DA by midday on Monday January 7.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk