Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is seeking local business leaders from the Isle of Wight to join its Board of Directors.
The business-led partnership is the lead organisations tasked with driving the economic success of the Solent area and those joining the Board will play a key role in supporting the Solent economy to restart and return to growth.
Over the longer term, the LEP remains committed to ensuring the Solent is a global leader in maritime and climate change adaptation, with towns and cities that are fantastic places to live, trade and with opportunities for all communities to flourish.
Alongside strategy development, the LEP is a major capital investor in the Solent economy and is delivering a growth programme valued at over £1.8billion supported by a £247million LEP investment, working with HM Government to create new jobs and enable new homes to be built in the Solent.
The LEP Board is made up of business, education and local authority Directors and was the first LEP in the country to have a fully-elected board. All Solent LEP Directors undertake their roles on a voluntary basis.
The Solent LEP is also opening the application process for Solent businesses to join the LEP as Business Members.
LEP Business Members elect the Business Directors on the LEP Board and have an opportunity to support the work of the LEP in many ways. Membership of the LEP is free.
Brian Johnson, Chair of the Solent LEP said:
“Strong business leadership has never been more important for our local economy.
“LEP Business Directors play a critical role in developing the immediate programme of support provided by the Solent LEP, as well as shaping the regions longer-term strategy to unleash our area’s distinctive strengths that can power our economy to increase productivity and support our communities to prosper in a fast-changing world. We are committed to driving green growth in the area and establishing the Solent as a globally leading decarbonisation cluster and I would encourage any business leader with a passion for supporting our local economy to apply.”
Rachael Randall, Solent LEP Diversity Champion, said:
“The future of our economy in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic will look very different and we have a unique opportunity as an area to shape this.
“We want to ensure the Solent can benefit from a diverse range of views and experience on this journey and are committed to having a Board which embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity within our economy. We are therefore particularly keen to encourage applications from female business leaders and business leaders from a BAME background. If you’re willing to play a key role in enhancing economic prospects within the area we would love to hear from you.”
The LEP is seeking to appoint 2 new Business Directors and the closing date for all applications is 23:59 on Friday 19th February 2021. Information on how to apply can be found at https://solentlep.org.uk/get-involved/become-a-solent-lep-business-director/.
Disgusting to say:
” having a Board which embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity within our economy. We are therefore particularly keen to encourage applications from female business leaders and business leaders from a BAME background”
Meaning ALREADY that IF you are male and white, you are ‘instantly’ at an unfair disadvantage.
To publish this saying ‘equality of opportunity’ but then to add ‘particularly keen’ etc etc, ought to be an offence as race and sexisim Rightly is.
One expects a certain councillor will be putting a wig and face paint on next weeks ‘essential shopping’ list.
God help this country is has gone so far in creating equality it is now going backwards again.
Well said. This is disgusting and blatant inequality, causing many who do not ‘fit’ the criteria to feel they have less of a chance, as so not apply.
I suggest you DO apply if male and Cau-casian, and then take them to court if ‘the particularly keen’ applicant gets the role, as is almost a ‘given’.
The BEST person ought to be chosen, and no need to specify you disgusting bias in your wish list.
I have cut and copied this all, and will forward it to the relevant authority for their opinion.
I cannot believe what I have just read. I had to read it twice to make sure.
What a total disregard for equality, and published for all to see.
What the hell difference should it make what race, or s ex the applicant is.
That has NOTHING to do with such, and IF I were black or a women, I would be deeply offended to be ‘singled out’ as it is saying ‘EVEN someone like YOU’ are now because of our P.C rules, acceptable to make up our quota.
You should be wanted because of your skills, not genitals or skin tone. So NEITHER need to be asked for specifically.
This is an outrage. To be forced by P.C rules to employ a certain ‘type’ over another, is stepping back in time.
Any progress made will be lost in this aim for equal rights for all, if now, ‘some’ are MORE equal than others.
Orwell must churn at night.
Please let’s all report this disgusting move of in-equality in OUR own country.
If they are looking for a diverse range of views, why aren’t younger people offered opportunities on boards? Its no coincidence that many of the fastest growing global companies are driven by young entrepreneurs with dynamic views.
Oh dear LEP. What WERE you thinking when you put that statement out?
Notwithstanding the de facto discriminatory comments from LEP, I shall apply, and if I am successful I will be looking into whatever vehicle is available to LEP to recover the grant made to IWC for the Floating Farce and the catastrophic effect its unreliability has had on local business and the community.
stupid, outdated, woman. opinions like that belong in the last century.