Two overlapping local enterprise partnerships are looking for new figureheads.
Ursula Lidbetter has announced she is to stand down as chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership at the end of the month after nine years at the helm of the organisation.
She follows Lord Haskins, who revealed his decision for the Humber body in September.
Grimsby, and the wider South Humber Bank, sit in both LEP areas, and while the government has expressed a preference for single affiliations, it appears to have slipped down the agenda 鈥 with Brexit preparation and delivery dominating prior to the election being called.
What the result would throw up remains to be seen, with the creation a policy from the Conservatives to replace regional development authorities, but food and agriculture has been supported strongly by Lincolnshire while the Humber has backed ports and renewables.
Ursula, who is also chief executive of Lincolnshire Co-op, was the first Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP when it was created in 2010. LEP directors may serve for a maximum of nine years, and Ursula has been successfully leading the LEP since the start.
She said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a privilege. The difference we鈥檝e made can be seen from the Humber to the Wash in better infrastructure, innovation and business growth, university and college provision.
鈥淭he LEP has brought people from business and the public sector together with government to develop our ambitious Strategic Economic Plan and emerging Local Industrial Strategy which guide our effort and investment. Major projects include the Food Enterprise Zones in Holbeach and Grimsby, the Grantham Southern Relief Road and the Lincoln Transport Hub. We鈥檝e also invested in sustainable transport including in Go Skegness, where there鈥檚 also a new business park on the way.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been fortunate that so many local people from business and the public sector have given their time and talent to the LEP and I鈥檝e enjoyed working with them and learning from them. Over 100 businesses also work at national and international level through Team Lincolnshire to promote the area to potential investors.
鈥淥ver my nine years as chair we鈥檝e grown in our ambition and proved our ability to transform this place while retaining our quality of life. I look forward to seeing the next chapter unfold.鈥
Deputy chair Pat Doody will act as interim chair as the search for a replacement begins.
鈥淚 know I speak for the rest of the board when I reflect that Ursula has provided a very clear sense of direction and purpose to the LEP鈥檚 workings and has always had the best interests of Greater Lincolnshire at the heart of decision making,鈥 said Pat.
鈥淪he has added the important ingredient of ambition while recognising the challenges we have had to overcome in order to free up the area鈥檚 potential.
鈥淥ur voice has been heard at the highest levels and the work she has also carried out on the Food Council at a national level reflects the importance of this sector to both Greater Lincolnshire and the 海角视频 economy.
鈥淚 think her USP has been the way she secures the buy-in of both private and public sector elements of the partnership, and when we consider her tenure of the LEP, from day one, we all have much to be grateful for.鈥
Born and bred in Lincoln, Ursula studied operational research 鈥 the scientific approach to business management 鈥 at the University of Hull and then took a graduate course at the Co-op College.
She joined Lincolnshire Co-operative in 1985 as a buyer and department manager at the Silvergate store in Lincoln. Since then she has held various roles and ultimately became the society鈥檚 CEO in 2004.
Ruth Carver, chief executive of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: 鈥淯rsula is a highly successful and effective businesswoman and a brilliant ambassador for our area.
鈥淗er energy and dynamism have driven the LEP forward since its inception and everyone in Greater Lincolnshire owes her a debt of gratitude for her hard work and commitment to improving the local economy.鈥
As well as being chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, she is also chair of the Lincoln Business Improvement Group and was chair of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce until last year.
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She was awarded an MBE in 2012 for services to business in Lincolnshire and an OBE in 2019.
Sir John Peace, chairman of the Midlands Engine, said: 鈥淚t has been a great privilege to work with Ursula in her role as Chair of Greater Lincolnshire LEP over a number of years, during which time I came to fully appreciate the breadth of her outstanding leadership capabilities and her passion for Lincolnshire and the wider Midlands region.
鈥淒uring her tenure Lincolnshire鈥檚 economy, businesses and communities have benefited immeasurably from her leadership and determination to make the county of Lincolnshire and our region a much better and prosperous place to live, to work, to learn and to raise a family.
鈥淥n behalf of everyone at the Midlands Engine, I would like to say a very big thank you to Ursula for everything she has done and wish her every success and happiness in the future.鈥
To discuss the role of Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP email Roger.Russell@Penna.com or call 0203 8492627.
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