Key roles announced at South West economic development group
An organisation which aims to drive economic growth in the South West has appointed two new deputy directors.
The Great South West Partnership has announced the appointments of James Fairbairn as deputy director of investment and growth and Sajid Butt as deputy director of business insights.
The Great South West, representing Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and the Isles of Scilly, is dedicated to driving investment and showcasing the region’s exceptional industries, businesses, and workforce.
James Fairbairn joins the Partnership from Cornwall Space Cluster, where he was Space Cluster development manager, leading on partnership development and promotional activities.
He has over six years of experience in the aerospace sector, and was previously business development manager at AeroSpace Cornwall, focusing on strategic marketing and investment.
James said: “The Great South West is critical to the UK economy. I am really looking forward to helping grow our key industries, including clean energy, food security and defence.
“Coming from the space sector, it’s exciting to see how satellite technology underpins these key parts of our economy. The South West has a great opportunity to access new markets, including expanding internationally, and I’m excited to help seize these opportunities and leverage investment into the region for our businesses and economy.”
Sajid Butt joins from Enterprise M3, where he was head of policy, intelligence and communications, leading on several initiatives from sustainable economic growth to impact investing.
Sajid also worked for Southampton City Council as strategic skills manager, where he focused where he focused on skills development, business growth, and future work trends.
Sajid said: “I am delighted to join Ahmed’s newly assembled team and support the Great South West Partnership in delivering on its goals. I have been hugely impressed by the ambition and collaborative nature of its work to date; all done at pace and with real enthusiasm across the Partnership.
“It’s evident the region has immense strategic and natural assets that could serve as a blueprint for a dynamic framework for economic growth that benefits generations to come.
“I look forward to working with business groups and stakeholders to showcase the incredible opportunities in the region and mobilise our collective voice to inform our work in Westminster.”
The new directors will be working alongside chair Karl Tucker and director Ahmed Goga.
Karl Tucker, chair of the Great South West Partnership, said: “I am delighted to welcome James and Sajid to the Great South West team.
“Their extensive experience and proven leadership will be invaluable assets as we work to unlock the economic potential of our region.”
