Non-Executive Director - Improving Connectivity

Posted by lepadmin - May 12, 2016 - Newsroom - No Comments

Recruitment of a Non-Executive Director of the GBSLEP to lead on ‘Improving Physical and Digital Connectivity’ and act as the Transport & Logistics Sector Champion

The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) is seeking to appoint a Non-Executive Director (NED) to lead on the ‘Improving Physical & Digital Connectivity’ (‘Improving Connectivity’) element of its Strategy for Growth.

This opportunity comes at an exciting time for Greater Birmingham and GBSLEP. Key indicators such as job creation, economic output, foreign direct investment and business start-ups are showing that the economy here is growing. This is being supported by significant investment in: transport infrastructure (Birmingham Airport, New Street, Metro); key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences and energy; and office and retail space such as Resorts World, Paradise and Grand Central. The advent of HS2 is already bringing investment to the region through the National College for High Speed Rail and the construction headquarters, and this will only increase in the years ahead. UK Central, the Enterprise Belt and Birmingham Smithfield present further opportunities to be exploited.

GBSLEP is supporting this renaissance through its Strategy for Growth and is demonstrating real success on the ground across its Business, People and Place agendas. It now has the tools in place to make a real difference including a £379m Growth Deal from the Government, a £275m Enterprise Zone (EZ) Investment Plan and influence over the €255.8m European Structural and Investment Fund. It is also working closely within the proposed West Midlands Combined Authority to implement the recent Devolution Deal as well as playing an integral role in the emerging Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect agendas, in which connectivity is a major part. A further round of Local Growth Funding deal has also been confirmed in the Chancellor’s recent Budget.

We are looking for an individual to join the GBSLEP Board who is passionate about the physical and digital connectivity agendas within the Greater Birmingham & Solihull area, is committed to driving forward the LEP’s ambitious plans and ensuring its target of creating 119,000 private sector jobs by 2020 is met. In addition, the individual will work alongside the sector champions to ensure that we build on strengths and opportunities in the transport & logistics sector.

Role Description

The successful individual will join 18 other NEDs on the LEP Board from across the private, public and education sectors. They will lead on strategy development activity across the LEP’s agenda with a specific focus on the ‘Improving Connectivity’ workstream which, alongside the ‘Optimising Assets’ workstream, forms the ‘Place’ agenda for GBSLEP. In addition, the successful individual will bring in-depth sector knowledge and networks, leadership skills and business acumen so that opportunities to grow the transport & logistics sector across Greater Birmingham & Solihull can be maximised.

In particular, the role will be to:

  • Support the growth agenda of GBSLEP where there is a need for improved physical and digital connectivity, and where there are opportunities to grow the transport & logistics sector
  • Chair the LEP’s ‘Improving Physical & Digital Connectivity’ sub-board, and sit on the ‘Place’ Board
  • Ensure that interventions are developed and prioritised in line with the wider ‘Place’ agenda
  • Work with public and private sector representatives within the ‘Place’ workstream to:
    • Determine key priorities and strategic objectives in line with the LEP’s Strategy for Growth and Strategic Economic Plan
    • Secure investment in and ensure the delivery of projects
    • Enable effective and coherent communication of plans across the partnership
  • Work with key stakeholders across the public and private sector, including through the West Midlands Combined Authority, Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect agendas, to ensure that GBSLEP’s priorities for physical and digital connectivity are reflected
  • Support the LEP’s business planning process with regards to the ‘Improving Connectivity’ workstream, the wider ‘Place’ agenda and the growth of the transport & logistics sector
  • Use sector contacts and networks to engage key stakeholders in LEP activity to grow the transport & logistics sector, including securing inputs and resources to support the agenda, and convening and chairing meetings as appropriate
  • Represent GBSLEP externally as required

Person Specification

The successful individual will need to demonstrate:

  • Good business acumen based on senior level experience, in a private sector capacity, and with strong roots in the Greater Birmingham area
  • Familiarity with Greater Birmingham’s strengths, assets, opportunities and challenges, with particular regards to physical and digital connectivity and the transport & logistics sector
  • Strong leadership skills, personal authority and gravitas
  • The ability to actively lead the LEP’s ‘Improving Connectivity’ and ‘Place’ workstreams, and to be accountable for progress based on a proven track record of delivery
  • Significant senior level experience relating to the connectivity agenda
  • Experience and knowledge of the key drivers, enablers, opportunities and challenges involved in connectivity from a private sector perspective
  • Experience of public / private partnership working and of building partnerships that add value
  • The ability to foster joint working across geographies and sectors and to actively manage relationships with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure their understanding and secure ‘buy in’
  • Extensive personal and organisational networks, particularly within the connectivity arena.

Support for the role

The LEP Executive Team is a small team which provides executive support to the LEP Board Directors. This includes an Executive Officer who leads on the Improving Connectivity workstream, and one who supports the Sector Development strand of the LEP’s work who will support the successful individual.

Time Commitment

The position is a voluntary non-executive post with a commitment of up to the equivalent of 2-3 days per month.

The LEP Board, a company limited by guarantee, meets every two months and there is an expectation that NEDs undertake work on the areas that they are leading on in between meetings. This may involve meetings with stakeholders, convening a sub-group and attending events to promote the agenda.

The NED will be supported in this work by the LEP Executive and other key partners.

The term of office will be three years.

How to apply

Applications are invited from suitable candidates in line with the Role Description and Person Specification. Applicants are invited to submit:

  • A detailed CV (no more than 3 pages)
  • A covering letter (no more than 2 pages)

The deadline for applications is the close of business on Thursday 26th May 2016. Interviews are planned to take place week commencing Monday 13th June 2016.

Applications should be submitted electronically to [email protected] and marked ‘Board NED Improving Connectivity Application’ in the subject line. Alternatively, please post your application to: GBSLEP, Ground Floor, Baskerville House, Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2ND.

If you would like more information on the role please contact: Katie Trout, LEP Director, at [email protected] or on 0121 303 9867.