Humber LEP unveils make-up of board

The LEP board comprises nine members from the private sector and five from the public sector, who will join chairman Lord Christopher Haskins and vice chairman David Ross.

The announcement follows last month’s appointment of Mr Ross, the multi-millionaire co-founder of Carphone Warehouse and chairman of Cosalt.

The board, who will meet for the first time on December 16, includes John Clugston, chairman of Clugston Group; Matt Jukes, port director at Associated British Ports; and Malcom Joslin, communications and external affairs manager at BP Chemicals. The three originally led the formation of the LEP.

The other private sector members include Peter Stephenson, executive chairman of Able UK; David Kilburn, managing director of MKM Building Supplies; and Alan Platt, managing director of John Good Shipping.

Ex officio board member is Howard O’Neill, president of the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce.

Meanwhile, the public sector members of the board, which includes the four local authorities covered by LEP are: Coun Steve Brady, leader of Hull City Council; Coun Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council; Coun Chris Shaw, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council; Coun Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council; and Prof Calie Pistorius, vice chancellor of Hull University.

The LEP was approved by the Government in June following months of political wrangling over its size.

Yorkshire has four LEPs, which are at the heart of the Government’s plan to get economies growing following the abolition of regional development agencies.

The Humber LEP board’s vision is for the area to become a national and international centre for renewable energy and it aims to create upwards of 20,000 jobs.

Lord Haskins said: “The Humber LEP board, like the LEP itself, is all about local businesses and local people, and my first task was to ensure all concerned have good strong links to, as well as an interest in, the Humber economy.

“Now that the Humber has been recognised as the major UK centre for renewables, we need to exploit this and ensure that all parties work together to encourage inward investment into our Enterprise Zones as well as create opportunities for local companies.

“We have a lot of work to do, but I have total confidence that my members of the board will rise to meet this challenge.”

The LEP is expected to focus on opportunities for growth around ports and logistics, chemicals, international trade, strategic transport, infrastructure and innovation.