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Digital Skills Partnership Manager appointed

I am excited to be appointed Digital Skills Partnership Manager for the Heart of the South West LEP. I’ve lived and worked in Devon for 15 years since moving our young family out of London. Previously I’ve run my own software business in rural Mid Devon (Bow Software), founded PhysiDigi a tech startup in Bristol Engine Shed, managed FabLab Devon and the Business and IP Centre for Libraries Unlimited and more recently been Digital Marketing Manager for an International Healthcare company. Having seen the digital divide that exists in all companies (sole trader to corporate), within education and the public sector I can’t wait to get started on pulling together a strategy to support digital skills across the Heart of the South West LEP.

Drawing on my experience and passion for fostering collaboration between digital, business, community and education I’ll be working with our Local Digital Skills Partnership to create an Action Plan for 2019 and onwards that supports individuals and communities to keep pace and be their ‘digital best’, for productivity and well-being of our local area.

Find out more about the Digital Skills Partnership here or if you have ideas you would like to discuss please feel free to connect on LinkedIn.

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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.