Council officials have brought 22 business leaders together to form Hull and East Yorkshire’s new business board.
Their role will be to support and advise the development of the Hull and East Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s economic priorities, including delivery of a £400m investment fund.
The leaders of Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, councillor Mike Ross and councillor Anne Handley, will work with the business board members to make sure that the voice of the region’s business sector is heard in strategic decision making.
Councillor Handley said: “This is a crucial development in the devolution process and will play a key part in the region’s economic development. We’re looking forward to the benefits of devolution enabling the region to thrive, with the help of the board’s expertise and guidance.”
Councillor Ross said: “The establishment of the board is an important step forward on the path towards unlocking huge investment in our area.
“We’re extremely grateful for the support of the diversity, experience and proactive business voice that the membership represents and look forward to their views feeding into the development of new economic strategies, allowing us to maximise the opportunities devolution brings.”
A deal to create the authority was signed off by the government in September, and will lead to a mayoral election in May 2025.
The Board will appoint its chair at a meeting on Friday 13 December.
The business board is one of two new strategic groups that will provide support to the new governance structures of the Hull and East Yorkshire region, alongside a skills Board.
Members of the new board are:
- Amelia Caruso Alessandro Caruso Architects
- Andy Capes RSM UK
- Angela Kirkwood PS Kirkwood Farms & East Riding Country Pork
- Beckie Hart CBI
- Chris Crystal Wilkin Chapman Solicitors
- Councillor Anne Handley East Riding of Yorkshire Council
- Councillor Mike Ross Hull City Council
- Daniel Haley GW Power
- David Hall Beverley Leisure Homes
- David Garness Garness Jones
- Finbarr Dowling Siemens
- Jason Speedy Groupe Atlantic
- Jo Barnes Sewell Group
- Katy Swaby Enviromail
- Madge Moore Yorkshire Food Farming and Rural Network
- Mark Barrett Risby Homes
- Martin Corcoran Summit Media
- Paula Gouldthorpe Federation of Small Businesses
- Phil Ascough Ascough PR
- Phil Jones Link Agency
- Professor Dave Petley University of Hull
- Robert Brocklesby Adams and Green Ltd
- Stephen Parnaby Wren Kitchens
- Thomas Martin ARCO
