Jason Speedy, the Chief Operations Officer of Ideal Heating, has been appointed as the first chair of the recently formed Hull and East Yorkshire Business Board.
He is taking on the leading role, in which he will act as a figurehead of the Board, which is supporting and advising the development of the economic priorities of the new Hull and East Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA).
Composed of 22 influential business leaders from across the region, alongside the two local councils, the Board is providing input into strategic decision making, including the delivery of a £400 million investment fund secured as part of the devolution deal with the Government.
Jason joined Ideal Heating as COO in November 2019, and previously spent over 20 years with Siemens.
He said: “The Business Board was created to bring together private and public sector leaders, to help shape the region’s economic growth strategy and ensure we have a single, clear voice representing our diverse business community and advising the new Combined Mayoral Authority.
“I’m honoured to have been appointed chair of the HEY Business Board, at a hugely significant time for our region.
“Devolution represents a transformational opportunity to unlock major inward investment and growth in areas such as employment, skills and innovation.
“As a leading business and large employer rooted in Hull and East Yorkshire, we at Ideal Heating are committed to playing our full part in forging a prosperous future for the region and unlocking all of the exciting opportunities offered by devolution.”
The Business Board is one of two recently formed strategic groups providing support to the new governance structures of the Hull and East Yorkshire region, alongside a Skills Board.
The relevant order was laid in Parliament last month to officially create the Hull and East Yorkshire MCA, and it will lead to a mayoral election, with voters going to the polls for the first time on Thursday 1 May 2025.
Mayoral elections will then take place every four years.
The MCA does not replace either Hull City Council or East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which will both continue their work as separate councils as normal.
