Chair sought for emerging Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership

THE emerging Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership has begun the search to find its first chair.

It is looking for a dynamic and experienced business leader to take the high profile role with the successful candidate being expected to establish and lead the board, bring together local business figureheads, public and third sectors.

The new entity will launch on April 1, with three year terms outlined, with the opportunity to renew "subject to performance" and in exceptional circumstances.

A decade ago Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce had led the push for the Humber LEP, with John Clugston as an interim chair before Lord Chris Haskins was appointed. He stepped down earlier this year, with former East Riding leader Stephen Parnaby taking a further interim role.

Applications for the new entity are being invited from those with “drive, energy and a passion for Hull and East Yorkshire, someone who is an effective advocate and champion for the area”.

The board’s remit will be to initiate the economic priorities for Hull and East Yorkshire, setting the landscape for economic recovery and securing the resources needed for growth.

It is being created after government insisted local authorities could not straddle two LEP areas. That led to the South Bank councils opting to join Greater Lincolnshire, having previously belonged to it as well as the Humber LEP.

The decisions ended hopes from many in business of a pan-Humber devolution centred around the economic entity, with the ports and wider Energy Estuary agenda propelled over the past decade.  

While it is described as an exciting opportunity by Hull and East Riding's council leaders, it brings a triple challenge, with Brexit, Covid-19 recovery and the new complexities of the Humber relations to negotiate.

Leader of Hull City Council, Cllr Stephen Brady, said: “This is a rare and exciting opportunity for someone with a vested interest in Hull and East Yorkshire to make a real difference.

“The LEP brings together partners from the private, public and third sectors; along with collaborating with a wide-range of local partners to act as an informed and independent voice for Hull and East Yorkshire, and the person chosen for this role will play a key part in this partnership.

“I’m very much looking forward to seeing some high-calibre applicants in the region come forward.”

Hull City Council will act as the accountable body, having held the role for Humber LEP.

Cllr Richard Burton, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This is a great time for the new Hull and East Riding LEP to be looking for a new chairman as there are a number of substantial and exciting projects on the horizon which will see the economy of the area really grow.

“It’s a great opportunity for someone with a strong energy, passion and vision to bring together partners in local business as well as the public and the third party sector to drive forward the economy and make Hull and the East Riding a place people want to come to and invest in.”