New chair announced for Town Deal Board

Dewsbury Town Deal Board and Kirklees Council have appointed Keith Ramsay as the new chair of the board.

Ramsay will take the position with immediate effect, following a rigorous search and interview process that took place at the end of May.

Commenting on his appointment Ramsay said: “I am very pleased and excited to be appointed Chair of the Town Deal Board and particularly at the opportunity that this significant investment in Dewsbury will mean for the town, its residents and its businesses. The Board are very much focused on delivery of the Plan.”

Keith Ramsay

The new chair’s executive career has spanned retail, accommodation and business support sectors. In 2015 he was the CEO responsible for leading the set up and initial development of the Business Improvement District for Leeds, a driving force for change in the city centre, and is the current chair of Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and the board of the Association of Business Executives.

Ramsay takes over the reins from Rob Norreys of The University of Huddersfield, who was appointed the interim Chair in January.

During his time as chair, Norreys led the board through the development and submission of the successful bid for £24.8m in government funding to regenerate the town. This funding will be used to deliver a number of ambitious projects which will kick start the vision for Dewsbury to be a diverse and vibrant place. Among the ambitious plans are improvements to Dewsbury Market, the creation of a new town park and bringing Dewsbury Arcade back to life.

Norreys said: “I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to work with the Board and the team from Kirklees to secure the funding for Dewsbury and wish Keith and the Board all the best as they embark on delivery.”

Councillor Shabir Pandor, leader of Kirklees council said: “I was delighted to chair this important board until Rob agreed to take on the role. I’d like to thank Rob for his vital support this year in chairing the board and leading the successful bid for government funding to help us regenerate the town. This funding will help us to realise our ambitious plans and put Dewsbury on the map. This shows the council is capable of working in a positive partnership with national government.

“Honouring the town’s heritage and encouraging businesses and people into the town centre is key to help us unlock Dewsbury’s economic potential and improve the lives of everyone who lives there.

“There’s a lot of work to do to translate the funding into on-the-ground regeneration and I’m delighted to welcome Keith who will lead the board as we move forward with this. Keith will bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience.”

Dewsbury MP, Mark Eastwood, who also sits on the board added: ”I am delighted that we have appointed Keith Ramsay, who has a wealth of experience in both the private and public sectors. I look forward to working alongside Keith to ensure that we deliver the projects outlined in the Town Investment Plan, which will transform our town and make it once again a great place to work, visit and live.”

The Dewsbury Town Board is made up of representatives from local communities, businesses and local leaders and is responsible for drawing up ambitious plans to transform the town’s economic growth prospect.

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