The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Limited (LLEP) is appealing for business leaders from under-represented groups to join its board.
The body, set up to drive economic regeneration and growth, has three places to fill.
Since its establishment in 2011, it has helped invest tens of millions into the local economy through projects and programmes designed to stimulate growth and prosperity.
Directors come from various backgrounds in the public and private sectors, and act as representatives for their industry or area of expertise.
And the LLEP wants to make sure its top decision-making body is representative of the communities it serves.
Emma Anderson, a director at Freeths solicitors in Leicester, has been a LLEP board member for two years.
A spokeswoman for the LLEP said she had spent most of her working life in Leicester and Leicestershire and was a good example of someone who was committed to the economic and cultural development of the region.
The spokeswoman said: “Her knowledge and experience of the commercial services and private sector in Leicester and Leicestershire – and local businesses of all shapes and sizes – enables her to appreciate and understand the issues facing business and to input that knowledge for the benefit of the LLEP area.
Most Read
“Her involvement in the cultural sector via her trusteeship of Big Difference Company (responsible for the annual Leicester Comedy Festival) provides her with a different focus from that of the commercial sector and enables her to appreciate local issues from varying perspectives.
“With colleagues at Freeths, Emma leads their Women in Business agenda for Leicester and Leicestershire which focuses on raising the profile and influence of professional women and seeks to address some of the recurring themes facing businesswomen such as improving business networks, imposter syndrome and balancing responsibilities.”
Emma said: “As a member of the LLEP board, I am involved in the operations of the organisation at its highest level of decision-making.
“Working with the other directors including senior local politicians, we make decisions on the LLEP’s spending, which is in excess of £250 million.
“We also agree strategic priorities and influence decision makers at both a local and national level in Westminster.
“It is of vital importance that women are fairly represented at this highest level of economic policy making. Here in Leicester and Leicestershire, women contribute huge amounts to the local economy through innovative, successful and profitable businesses.
What's new in the East Midlands
“I would be delighted to be joined on the LLEP board of directors by more like-minded women, keen to help improve the economy of our region and strengthen it for the future.
Don’t miss
“It is fair to say that women are currently under-represented on the LLEP Board.
“To me this is surprising considering that there are many highly competent and capable business women in Leicester and Leicestershire who would be a great fit for this role.
“I would therefore encourage those women to seriously consider applying to become involved in the LLEP at board level and so be part of its focus on driving economic growth in our region by working in partnership with organisations across the private and public sectors to secure the funding necessary to support that growth.
“We are looking to have a balanced board with a mixture of different skills and backgrounds, covering both the economic geography of the area and the key sectors.”
Applications are open now via the LLEP website.