Business leaders line-up to support LEP skills programme

The business leaders join Mark Ridgway, of Group Rhodes in Wakefield, in overseeing the LEP skills service, a service designed to support SMEs in Leeds City Region to upskill their staff and benefit from the £13.9m funding available for training and development.

The LEP said its service has already helped more than 100 businesses invest in training and has provided more than 700 employees with an opportunity to learn new skills and develop existing skills. The funding is available to eligible employers looking to invest in their staff and have until spring 2017 to take advantage of the support and expertise available.

The new business leaders bring skills and experience from a number of the region’s key sectors and will work with the LEP to provide strategic oversight of the skills service project and ensure that businesses yield maximum impact from the funding available.

They include Julie Edmondson, of networking group the Met Club, Dan Conboy, of digital marketing agency Statement, Neil Parkinson, of engineering consultancy Curtins Consulting, Graham Sweeney, of law firm Schofield Sweeney, Alastair Kitching, of technology firm Esteem Systems, and Stephen Semple, of infrastructure group Balfour Beatty.

Mr Ridgway said: “I am pleased to welcome new talent to oversee this important skills programme. All bring with them a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm in supporting businesses to grow and develop their staff.” To find out more email [email protected].