Rigby to stay on at LEP to oversee City Deal bid

ENTREPRENEUR Sir Peter Rigby has agreed to extend his stay as chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

The businessman – who is chairman and chief executive of the Birmingham-headquartered Rigby Group, the UKs 13th largest privately owned business, which operates across IT, aviation, hotels and property investment – was due to end his term as chair in September but has been asked by the board to stay on to oversee the area’s City Deal bid.

The bid to Government has been designed to drive the economy by improving skills, innovation, productivity and jobs building on the area’s strength in engineering and manufacturing.

Martin Yardley, chief executive of the LEP said: “Sir Peter has been very involved in the formulation and presentation of the City Deal bid to Government, and that process will now run until the end of the year.

“The board felt that Sir Peter’s continued involvement was key to the success of the bid. He dedicates a great deal of time taking the LEP forward in all its key areas and it has made massive strides under his leadership.”

Karl Eddy, vice chairman of the LEP, said: “Sir Peter has led the City Deal bid from its conception through to this point and it is vital that he remains as chair during this process.

“He has done a great deal of work and spends an enormous amount of time helping us formulate our bid and present a compelling case to the relevant ministers and senior government officials.

“I am delighted he is staying on for what will be an exciting period for the LEP and for Coventry and Warwickshire.”