LEP chair to step down
The York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (Y & NY LEP) is launching a campaign to recruit a new Chair for its main Board as David Kerfoot MBE DL steps down next March.
Kerfoot has been on the Y & NY LEP board since its inception in 2010, having been deputy chair before taking over from the late Barry Dodd LL CBE two years ago.
Since 2014, the Y & NY LEP has invested a total of £230m to support business, infrastructure, and skills across the region including housing, transport, flood alleviation, social inclusion and workforce development. It has now said it is inviting applications from dynamic and experienced business leaders with drive, energy and a passion for York and North Yorkshire to replace the entrepreneur, who will stand down on 31 March 2021
Kerfoot said, “It has been a great pleasure and honour to lead this dynamic partnership and although there have been challenges, none more so than with Covid-19, it has been a very rewarding role.
“As Chair, you are able to make a real difference ‘on the ground’ and I look forward to seeing a new Chair take up the legacy and lead the LEP’s vision to build a greener, fairer and stronger economy for the region as we emerge from the pandemic.
step down
“The LEP is looking for a successful business leader who has a knowledge and passion for York and North Yorkshire and who is committed to what the LEP is trying to achieve. It is not a role for a ‘figure head’, it needs someone who is prepared to roll their sleeves up and get ‘stuck in’. The new Chair will need to provide clear, strong, visible leadership and get out and about and talk to people and businesses across the region about what they need.
“During my time as Chair, I’ve seen that it’s not necessarily the biggest investments that make the biggest impact – it’s the ability of the LEP to bring together various organisations, local authorities and businesses that makes the greatest difference and gets things done.”
The new LEP Chair will be responsible for leading a diverse group of board members who represent a wide range of private and public sector businesses and organisations from across the region including representatives from micro businesses, SMEs, large corporates and education institutions. As a public private partnership, the board are committed to working together closely to deliver what is best for the region.
The new Chair will also have the opportunity to be a part of the proposed devolution deal negotiations for York and North Yorkshire which could potentially provide £2.4 billion of investment in the region over the next 30 years helping to drive the region’s recovery and future growth.
An announcement about a new Chair will be made at the Y & NY LEP Annual Conference on 6 November, and in order to provide a stable transition in leadership at this critical time, there will be a five month transition period before Kerfoot formally completes his term in March 2021.
Further information is available and applications can be submitted at: www.ynylepchair.com Applications will close on Friday 2nd October.
