Enterprise chief 
steps down as LEP 
looks for new blood

The LEP is looking for a new chairman and new board members to help with its economic development work.

The corporate lawyer played a leading role in efforts to bring the public and private sectors together in one representative group after the Government axed Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency.

Mr McLean told the Yorkshire Post: “You need different people with different skills at different times. It’s an appropriate time to get new people in.”

He played down suggestions that the organisation could lose momentum during the upheaval, highlighting the role of its director and the 20-strong secretariat.

Mr McLean said: “Two years ago no-one knew whether LEPs would really develop credibility or acquire the powers, resources and responsibilities to really help the city region move forward.

“I am immensely proud of the progress that the Leeds city region has made. We have real momentum, have developed a strategic economic plan for the city region, helped to secure more than £90m for our businesses from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund and successfully taken our £36m Growing Places fund to market.

“We have supported the conclusion of a truly ground-breaking City Deal that will empower the city region to take charge of its economic destiny in entirely new ways and established ourselves with Government as truly one of the leading LEPs in the country.”

Existing private sector board members have been invited to reapply for their posts. The private sector board members are John Parkin, Stephen Kennedy, Mark Ridgway, Stephanie Burras, Gary Jones, Paul Hamer, Brian Cantor and Gary Lumby.

The chairman of the Leeds City Region Leaders Board, Councillor Peter Box, will oversee all the appointments. Business leaders and entrepreneurs have until February 15 to express their interest.

He said: “I am immensely grateful to Neil for his contribution over the last two years.

“He has led the LEP with clarity of purpose and unstinting commitment, and there is no question that without his expertise, negotiation skills and determination we wouldn’t be in the great position we are now.

“We are now looking for equally talented and like-minded business leaders to join the LEP and its groups to continue all the good work and see it through to the next exciting phase.”

Mr McLean said 2013 will be the year that businesses start to see the LEP utilise its powers and budgets to stimulate local growth.

Next month the LEP will launch a grant programme to support job creation in the city region.

The city region is the name given to the diverse area covering 11 local authorities.

The LEP had a bumpy start and faced tensions over the chosen location of an enterprise zone.