Fresh Call For Business Leaders To Drive Private Sector Transformation

Business leaders are being asked to put their names forward to join a new independent board to steer and shape Tees Valley’s private sector.

The Tees Valley Business Board, chaired by Siobhan McArdle, is looking for a handful of senior, experienced, well-known and well-respected names from industries across the region to drive forward opportunities and respond to business challenges.

The board will represent the voice of local business, feeding into the work of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, to advise on, establish and help lead projects, schemes and programmes that deliver real change to our local economy.

The Tees Valley Business Board is set to replace the Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership, following the announcement by the Chancellor in the Spring Budget that Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are set to be effectively abolished.

Siobhan said: “We now have a huge opportunity to redefine the scope and ways in which the private, public and voluntary and community sectors work together, making it vital that we attract an inclusive and diverse board, representative of the business communities it will serve.

“In putting together this new board, we want to call on the business leaders who come with the ideas, determination and networks to get things done – the established and experienced members of our business community, who have a track record in delivery and whose passion for Tees Valley is second to none.

“There is a real commitment on the part of the Mayor and Local Authority Leaders to have a board with industry insight to represent the voice of business across the region, to advocate, challenge, support decision making and ultimately drive economic growth.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It’s hugely important to have the voice of business at the heart of our decision-making. Ultimately, it is these local companies that are driving investment and create jobs and opportunities to improve the lives of local people – and their expertise will help shape and drive how we can support them in doing this.”

For further details, including how to apply to become a member of the Tees Valley Business Board, please visit www.teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/business-board