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Members sought for new Heart of the South West ESIF Strategic Committee

Opportunity to become a Member of the Strategic ESIF Area Committee

The Heart of the South West area has been allocated around £116m from the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme for England (2014-2020).

These funds will be crucial in helping us achieve our vision of jobs, growth and prosperity for the Heart of the South West.

We are now working with partners to establish our LEP Area ESIF Committee. This vitally important body will be responsible for the strategic development and delivery of the Heart of the South West EUSIF strategy and programme.

The committee will ensure that local strategic aims are considered alongside national strategic and operational objectives.

It will ensure that maximum impact is achieved through the Funds, thereby contributing to delivery of the overall national Operational Programmes.

It will also be responsible for ensuring operational delivery of activity supported by the funds, overseeing the development of an appropriate pipeline of proposals, agreeing investments and monitoring performance against targets at the LEP level.

Chris Garcia, Chief Executive of HotSW said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to support the Heart of the South West area. The role of Committee Member will be vital to the future success of the LEP, the EU programme and the area as a whole.

“The position offers a unique, challenging and fulfilling opportunity for people with relevant experience and who are representatives of the many different types of organisations that are based within the HotSW area.”

The closing date for applications is 9th October.

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.