Search for Liverpool LEP chairman turns to Robert Hough

ROBERT Hough, the chairman of the North West Development Agency, is the latest high profile name to be linked with the vacant role as chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

It is understood that the highly-respected Hough – who was appointed at the NWDA two years ago, has been approached by senior figures within the LEP and that talks are at an early stage.

Liverpool City Region in the only North West LEP without a chairman – the post was originally offered to Liverpool-born former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy – but he turned the position down, though he is a member of the LEP board.

Hough – who has led the NWDA with distinction since succeeding Bryan Gray –  declined to comment when contacted by TheBusinessDesk.com.

Business associates of Hough said the former lawyer and deputy chairman of Peel Holdings has not dismissed the possibility of taking the position, given his passion for regeneration and commitment to the North West.

It is likely that to avoid any conflict of interest that the Department of Business would have to ratify the appointment should Hough decide to take the unpaid job.

Like all the English regional development agencies NWDA is in the throes of being wound-down and will be formally abolished on March 31 2012.

Although they don’t hold budget themselves, LEPs are key strategic bodies comprising key figures from the public and private sectors. Their role is to co-ordinate and prioritise development and regeneration projects.

Other names linked with the LEP chairmanship include former BNFL boss Mike Parker, who is already chairman of economic development company Liverpool Vision, and Rod Holmes from tourism and inward investment agency The Mersey Partnership.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s LEP has teamed up with three other LEPs from the West Midlands in a bid to secure more cash from the Regional Growth Fund.

Its partnership with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire and Black Country LEPs is an attempt to boost cross-border economic growth and generate employment opportunities.

The quartet has not revealed exactly how much they have bid for, but said they would be working to address the specific needs of advanced engineering and manufacturing, with a particular focus on the automotive and aerospace sectors.

They should find out if their bid has been successful in September.