Greater Birmingham LEP rings the changes

THE Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) has announced a number of new appointments.
 
A new board director and social enterprise champion have been recruited.
 
Simon Marks, a director of property consultancy and project management firm EC Harris, joins as a new non-executive director and will lead the optimising assets element of the GBSLEP’s agenda.  He takes over the role that was previously held by Chris Webster, formerly of Miller Construction.
 
Marks brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the delivery of major residential developments, automotive facilities, infrastructure, public sector transformation and capital projects.
 
Andy Street, GBSLEP chairman, said: “Simon’s been a strong supporter and advocate of the GBSLEP over the last few years and we’re delighted to have him join us on the board. 

“He will undoubtedly build on the excellent work carried out by Chris Webster and will have a significant contribution to make to our ambitions in this area moving forward.”
 
Marks said: “This is a particularly exciting time to be joining the GBSLEP board, with the economy growing and this in turn driving the property and construction sector, much progress has been made with optimising assets. 

“With the expansion of the investment and size of the Enterprise Zone and vital funding secured via the City Deal and Growth Deal, it is important we continue to focus on the delivery element. We also need to build on our achievements so far by developing a pipeline of future projects and initiatives and our case for future potential deals.”
 
In line with the agreed rotation among the universities, the new higher education representative joining the board is Cliff Allan, vice-chancellor at Birmingham City University, who is replacing Professor Dame Julia King, vice-chancellor of Aston University, as board director for building sector strengths and opportunities.
 
Also new to the team is Melanie Mills as the GBSLEP’s first social enterprise champion, a position created following recognition of the contribution this sector makes to the economy and its potential to grow further. 

Mills is social sector engagement director for Big Society Capital and prior to this, she was chief executive of Social Enterprise West Midlands.