City Region to recruit new chair as Sir Nigel Knowles steps down

Following a three-year term, Sir Nigel Knowles has announced that his term as chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is set to come to an end.

As chairman of law firm DWF and former global co-chairman of DLA Piper, he’s represented the Sheffield City Region across the world.

Knowles announced at a LEP board meeting Monday (17 September) that he does not intend to continue as chair after his term of office ends on 31 December. Instead, he’s set to take on a bespoke role as special advisor to the Mayor, Dan Jarvis, on International Trade and Investment.

In his new role, Knowles will be advising the Mayor on international trade links and investment strategies, as well as personally taking part in trade missions and pitching to potential investors regarding inward investment opportunities.

He will also be leading the Sheffield City Region delegation to MIPIM, the world’s biggest property event, in March next year.

Knowles said: “I would like to wish my successor all the best in the role of Chair, and I look forward to working with them over the coming years to drive Sheffield City Region forwards.

“Our new Mayor, Dan Jarvis, already has and will continue to have my full support in his hugely important role of driving economic growth and prosperity across the whole of our City Region.”

Dan Jarvis, mayor of the Sheffield City Region, added: “I’d like to thank Sir Nigel for the tremendous contribution he has made over the last three years. He has personally brought investment into our region, represented us on a national and international scale, and lead the LEP during a period of successful growth.

“I look forward to working with Sir Nigel in his crucial new role as my advisor on International Trade and Investment, as well as welcoming a new LEP chair who can build upon these successes, at a time of great change and opportunity.”

Born and raised in Sheffield, Knowles studied law at the University of Sheffield and then joined Broomhead & Neals as a clerk in 1978. He later joined what was then the Dibb Lupton Broomhead law firm, where he is credited for leading the firm through a series of merges and taking it from its regional presence to the global firm it is today.

Knowles received a knighthood in 2009 in recognition of his services to the legal industry and in 2016 was picked to serve as High Sheriff of Greater London for a year.

Knowles added: “I have enjoyed my time as chair of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, representing our region at home and abroad, and am looking forward to taking on this new role as special advisor to the Mayor. I am also proud to be leaving knowing the economy and the LEP are stronger than when I arrived three years ago.

“In my new role, I will be focusing my energies on bringing trade and investment into the Sheffield City Region, as well as leading the trade and investment input into the LEP Annual Business Plan.

“We as a LEP board have achieved a great deal for this region – a region which I am passionate about, and which is experiencing a successful period of inward investment, economic growth and job creation.”

A full recruitment process for a new LEP chair will begin imminently, led by the Mayor, Dan Jarvis.