27/01/2011

Greater Manchester business leaders are being invited to join the new Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The government approved the establishment of the private sector-led LEP last October and since then a shadow LEP has been in place to prepare for the formation of the new body in April.

LEPs are designed to support business and local authorities to grow the local private sector, tackle major barriers to growth and develop shared strategies for the local economy to increase job creation. The membership of the body is expected to be a mix of public and private sector figures.

Shadow LEP chair John Early said: “Central government has made it clear that it considers LEPs to be at the heart of regional growth. This is your opportunity to have an influential role in the economic success of the city region at the heart of the decision-making process.”

Lord Peter Smith, chair of Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), said: “One of the reasons for Manchester’s success in recent years has been the strong partnership between the public and private sectors. By joining the LEP, business leaders in the city region can play a key part in shaping and strengthening that relationship in the months and years to come.”

The recruitment process will be a open one to ensure that everyone who believes they can make a contribution will have the opportunity to do so.

The LEP will comprise one non-local authority chair, eight other non-local authority representatives and up to four AGMA representatives. AGMA is seeking to appoint individuals from the private sector from a broad range of industries, as well as potentially individuals from other sectors -for example higher and further education and the voluntary sector – who can demonstrate a strong understanding of the needs and requirements for growing Greater Manchester’s economic base.

Appointees will sit on the LEP as individuals and will not be there to represent the views of their company, industry or representative body.

For more information about what the role entails, the application process and contact details for further inquiries, visit www.gmleprecruitment.com.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 21 February.

Media contact: Smyth Harper, Manchester City Council press office, 0161 234 1010