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Local Enterprise Partnership appoints Chair

The Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has today announced the appointment of Steve Hindley as Chair of the board, effective from the end of December.

Steve was formally chosen as Chair following a board meeting by the LEP earlier today (Thursday 21st November) – existing Chair Tim Jones will continue in his role until the end of December; he then continues as a board member.

With over 40 years’ experience in the construction industry at both project and company board level, Steve brings a combination of public and private sector experience to the role.   He is the current Chairman of the CBI Construction Council, former Chair of the South West CBI Council and is also a member of the Construction Leadership Council (Chaired by Vince Cable).   In addition, Steve is a trustee and deputy chairman for the Devon Community Foundation; a trustee of Children’s Hospice South West and on the board of governors at the City of Bristol College.

He was awarded the CBE in the 2006 New Year Honours List for services to the Construction Industry; appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Devon in 2009 and had an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering conferred upon him by Exeter University in 2011.

Steve said: “I’m absolutely passionate about the wealth creation role of business for society as a whole. I also believe there is a great need to nurture our local businesses in order to create and maintain sustainable jobs within our communities.   So I am very much looking forward to working with the other members of the board of the HotSW Local Enterprise Partnership to drive economic growth across the Heart of the South West”.

Vice Chair, Frances Brennan said: “Steve is a high calibre candidate with a strong business background in a number of industries. The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership will benefit from his experience in a variety of ways, helping to shape the economy of Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay.

“Tim Jones, who will remain a valued member of the Board, has had a number of high profile achievements during his time as chair – including securing £21m of Growing Places Funding, £200m of pinch point funding for transport schemes and £2.9m to develop a Rural Growth Network across the area.   I would like to thank Tim for the enormous amount of work he has done for the LEP and for the number of achievements he has secured for the Heart of the South West area as a whole.”

Chair, Tim Jones said: “I am looking forward to passing on the baton to Steve and being an active Board member, ensuring that the voice of the private sector remains key to our partnership. It has been a fascinating experience and I am keen that we maintain the momentum. I wish Steve every success.”

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.